Leeds United’s Joe Gelhardt defended by Sunderland team-mate

Luke O’Nien says Sunderland team-mate Joe Gelhardt deserves more credit for his recent performances despite the forward’s lack of goals.
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Gelhardt has scored once in 10 appearances since joining the Black Cats on loan from Leeds in January, with the 20-year-old constantly leading the line following a season-ending injury to Ross Stewart.

At Leeds, Gelhardt scored twice in 41 appearances and was often deployed in a deeper role where there was less pressure to be a regular goalscorer.

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When discussing the forward’s performances for Sunderland, O’Nien said: “I think a lot more credit has got to go to Joffy, I think he’s brilliant especially the last three, four, five games.

Joe Gelhardt playing for Sunderland.Joe Gelhardt playing for Sunderland.
Joe Gelhardt playing for Sunderland.

“Ok strikers are judged on goals but he brings way more than that. I think he’s been brilliant. I watch him, even when I play I watch him, I think his body position, the way he’s willing to receive it.

“You have to remember he’s an isolated man. The way we are playing we’re not as close to the goal maybe when you are playing off a big guy. We are further away from goal so he has to graft harder, he’s got to get the ball and hold it up.

“Me personally, I’m a big fan of him. I think he’s brilliant and the goals will come for him.

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“We have to work harder to dominate the ball further up the pitch so he’s closer to the goal because he’s doing so much work from deep.

“I know a few people give him stick saying he’s not scoring but they can come to me and argue that because I think he’s brilliant.”

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O’Nien, who is into his fifth season at the club, has also praised Sunderland’s younger players who have joined the club this season and performed in a high-pressure environment.

“I think it’s different to when I first joined and I think where we are is really positive,” O’Nien added.

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“We are in the top half of the Championship, we have young players making their introduction on a big stage, like one of the biggest stages in England and in football. Not many people have the privilege of playing in front of 35,000 people.

“To make your entrance on a stage like this, I don’t think people appreciate how hard that is. I did it with more than 100 league games under my belt and struggled.

“These kids are coming in without that experience and sometimes stepping out is a win for them. They are going to learn and develop.

“Take Abdoullah Ba for example, the other day he gave the ball away a couple of times and then got an assist. That is some character to do that. He is only going to grow.

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“Edouard Michut is putting in some really good performances and he has come a long way. These are their first starts in the Football League and you have got to remember how difficult that is.

“I look at that and say fair play to them. That’s some character to step out and do what they are doing when the judgement is high and there is a lot of pressure.

“I look at those guys and hope they carry on playing, developing, learning and making mistakes. That’s how you learn.”