Mark Jackson shares Joe Gelhardt update after Leeds U23 title win

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Mark Jackson has told Leeds Live that Joe Gelhardt will not be out for long, insisting that the Leeds United starlet’s injury is nothing serious.

Gelhardt missed the final two under-23 games of the season. And with the 19-year-old not included in Marcelo Bielsa’s last couple of squads with the first-team, it seemed to be a safe bet that he had sustained some sort of problem.

The teenager has been an outstanding player for Jackson’s men this season. And his performances have seen him named on the senior bench on a number of occasions.

Jackson admitted that he was disappointed that Gelhardt could not feature in the final under-23 game of the campaign as Leeds’s youngsters lifted their league title. But he suggested that he will not be out for much longer.

“[He’ll be] Extremely gutted to miss the game like any player,” he told Leeds Live. “It won’t be long [until he returns], he’s working hard with the physio staff.

“He’ll be back shortly, [it’s] nothing serious.”

Of course, it is set to be some time before the under-23s have another competitive fixture. But Jackson’s update is encouraging with a few more first-team games ahead.

Bielsa is surely unlikely to hand out too many debuts in the final weeks of the season. But he may be tempted to reward one or two with a chance.

And of those yet to make their first-team bow, Gelhardt – along with Cody Drameh – is arguably the standout.

So it could be huge for the starlet if his return does come soon.