Featured
Tony Mowbray wants striker back next season
Sunderland fans haven’t seen the best of the on-loan Leeds striker, but Mowbray wants him back next season.
Gelhardt joined Sunderland on loan in January with the Black Cats planning to use him to support Ross Stewart, however that strategy was torpedoed within hours as Stewart suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in an FA Cup tie at Fulham before Gelhardt had even had chance to make his debut.
Since then he has netted 3 goals in 16 appearances for the Black Cats but despite a less than eye-catching return, Tony Mowbray is a big admirer of the 20-year-old and is keen on the idea of bringing him back on-loan next season.
This however all depends on Gelhardt’s parent club Leeds United as the ball is in their court with where the striker plays his football next season. The future is unclear with what they will do with him as they have already seen a change in management in the time he has been out on loan with another change in the hot seat a possibility. Add to that the uncertainty of their Premier League status which will also swift their mentality in either keeping Gelhardt as an option or allowing him back out on loan.
“If it [bringing back Gelhardt] was a possibility it’s something … but there are a lot of things in the way,” said Mowbray, as his side prepares to continue its play-off challenge against Watford at the Stadium of Light tomorrow.
“I would assume that young Gelhardt would want to go back to his parent club, wherever they’re going, and play games, get a feel – the kid doesn’t even know what league they’re going to be in at this moment, when you look at the bottom of the Premier League. We all like him.
“For next year, that’s Leeds’s call and the player’s call, but I’ve enjoyed working with him because as we all see, there have been days when it hasn’t gone to plan for him, but he’s still worked and chased and fought and you can never knock a player who does that for you.”
Mowbray said: “As I see the daffodils coming in my garden, I see Joffy loving his football again, thinking he’s going to score goals. It’s almost a shame the season only has a couple of games to go.
“Whether he’s playing amazingly well or not so well, he works his socks off for the team. He runs and chases and fights and puts his body in.
“What an attribute to have, somebody who is a grafter.”
Sunderland face Watford tomorrow in their final home game of the season before rounding off their Championship campaign at Preston a week on Monday in which they hope to reach the play offs.
Would you like to see Joe Gelhardt get another spell at the Stadium of Light next season – let us know on our social media and follow us for latest North East Updates – https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates
