The striker ones described as ‘MAGIC’ could return to the Leeds squad ahead of Saturday’s clash against Coventry City

Farke gave an extensive list of injuries in his press conference. Max Wober, Manor Solomon and Dan James are sidelined with injury, while Pascal Struijk is a major doubt for the Coventry clash.

A number of first-team players could miss this weekend’s game. Indeed, Farke also said that Patrick Bamford missed a training session this week and while he returned to training, he is also a doubt.

Bamford was on the bench last week against Cardiff after overcoming a hamstring injury and while he is likely to be available on Saturday, there is a real chance Bamford could be missing from the Leeds squad.

If so, that hands Gelhardt a chance to make the bench. Even if Bamford is fit, the number of players missing through injury could see Gelhardt return to the Leeds squad after his absence last week.

Daniel Farke made the difficult choice to drop Joe Gelhardt from his Leeds United squad last weekend and ahead of Saturday’s clash against Coventry City, he was asked about the striker.

Leeds secured a 2-0 away win over Cardiff City last time out. A third Championship win from six games so far, in which Leeds picked up a fourth clean sheet and returned to sixth place in England’s second tier.

Gelhardt, once described as “magic” by Alan Shearer on Match of the Day after an assist against Brighton in the Premier League, has really struggled for game time under Daniel Farke since the German’s arrival.

Returning to Leeds from a loan at Sunderland in the summer of 2023, Gelhardt has only been afforded 15 appearances under Farke. The former Wigan academy product has only started five times under the former Norwich boss.

Gelhardt had been a part of the matchday squad for all six games in league and cup this season, starting against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup. But last Saturday, he was omitted from the squad for Cardiff.

Daniel Farke makes admission when asked about Joe Gelhardt

Gelhardt has gone from exciting Premier League talent, to a Championship outcast. Failing to play on a regular basis, Leeds were willing to let Gelhardt leave towards the end of the summer transfer window.

Asked about Gelhardt during Thursday’s press conference ahead of the clash at Elland Road against struggling Coventry, Farke said that it is difficult to make every single player in his Leeds squad happy.

“It’s one of the most-difficult parts of your job. Each player wants to play every second. You can only start 11 players. You might only have two or three players that are 100% happy with you, that’s the reality.

“We try to create unity. You have to be ready when your chance comes. Each and every player that is with us has my backing and my trust, and they have to be ready when the chance comes,” Farke explained.