Gelhardt could be Sunderland’s own Rooney

Sunderland are at present sitting in tenth place within the Championship table after a 3-1 defeat to Swansea on the Stadium of Mild within the division on Saturday.

The Black Cats are three factors off the highest six and a whopping 16 factors off the automated promotion locations because it stands, which means that the play-offs are a sensible goal for the membership to set heading into the final 19 matches of the marketing campaign.

Tony Mowbray and Kristjaan Speakman could now work collectively to strengthen the squad within the remaining two weeks of the January switch window with a view to enhance their possibilities of sneaking into competition for promotion by the tip of the season.

One participant the membership have been linked with an curiosity in is Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt. It was lately reported that the gem might be loaned out if the Premier League facet signed Georginio Rutter and the Hoffenheim winger has since accomplished a transfer to Elland Highway, which may open the door for Sunderland to swoop for the English teen.

The Black Cats should try and snap up the previous Wigan dynamo on mortgage till the tip of the season as he has the potential to be a wonderful addition to the squad.

Soccer expertise scout Jacek Kulig as soon as described him as “one of the gifted” kids in England and dubbed the ahead the “new Wayne Rooney”.

That is hefty reward for Gelhardt as Rooney racked up 53 objectives for England alongside 208 objectives and 114 assists in 491 Premier League appearances all through his profession.

Like the Manchester United legend, the 20-year-old Leeds ahead predominantly plays as a centre-forward however may play as a second striker along with his construct, as he isn’t a typical 6-foot plus quantity 9 at 5-foot-10, suiting a deeper function.

Gelhardt has proven loads of indicators of promise since becoming a member of the Whites and his kind at youth and senior stage signifies that he might be Sunderland’s personal mini-Rooney within the Championship.

The 20-year-old attacker scored 20 objectives and offered six assists in 31 appearances for Leeds’ under-21 facet and has showcased his expertise within the first-team with two objectives and six assists in six Premier League begins – making 35 appearances in whole.

Gelhardt – who Kulig as soon as hailed as being “too good” – may thrive by dropping down into the Championship as he has already proven that he can produce, in restricted minutes, high quality moments within the high flight.

Now, think about him arriving on the Stadium of Mild and making a big impact by scoring and aiding objectives regularly up entrance alongside Ross Stewart as Mowbray’s personal model of Rooney…