Daniel Farke has admitted that one Leeds United youngster has really caught his eye in pre-season so far.
The Whites have enjoyed an extremely productive summer since losing in the play-off final at Wembley and are just under two weeks away from their season opener with Portsmouth.
Having started pre-season with a 3-0 behind-closed-doors win against Lincoln City, Leeds fans were able to watch their side in action for the first time against Harrogate Town seven days ago.
Leeds were once again victorious by the same score-line and just 24 hours later they were on the plane to Germany to face two more friendlies.
Bundesliga 2 side Hannover were the opposition on Wednesday afternoon as Leeds ran out comfortable 4-1 winners, with a number of players like Brenden Aaronson and Jayden Bogle catching the eye.
Farke shares his thoughts on Mateo Joseph’s pre-season
It is difficult to pick out any poor performers across either of the two friendlies that have been available to watch, but there are plenty who are clearly determined to make an impression.
One player who certainly falls under that category is Mateo Joseph, who was arguably Leeds’ stand-out performer at Harrogate, registering a lovely assist for Junior Firpo.
He then scored two proper strikers’ goals of his own against Hannover, with the work he did over the summer really enabling him to hit the ground running.
In an interview with Leeds Live, manager Farke was asked about Joseph’s first team prospects for the season ahead and admitted there is a genuine possibility he could be handed a full league debut against Portsmouth.
He said: “If I have to judge it right now, then definitely because his pre-season is quite impressive. I’ve liked all the three games he has played.
“He was involved with goals and chipped in, not just with goals, also his maturity and also his workload. He came back out of a little break, on holiday, then he had a top, fit shape and this is the basement.
“You could really tell, from the first day, he has even used the break to bring himself into a better shape and this is always a basement, especially for young players because we have competition.
“Up front, right now, for the time Patrick is not available, perhaps, in pre-season, to get even more minutes. It’s good for his confidence if he delivers like this and he’s definitely on a really good path, yes.”
Farke simply has to make Joseph his starting striker
With Patrick Bamford out, Joseph is currently competing alongside Joel Piroe for that starting berth up front.
Piroe has also enjoyed a decent pre-season so far, netting three goals across Leeds’ three matches, but on the evidence seen, Joseph fits the system considerably more.
Given the amount of creativity Leeds have in the three positions behind the striker, Joseph’s pace and movement in behind gives Farke an entirely different option to Piroe.
Joseph has undoubtedly been Leeds’ biggest winner of pre-season and it is time Farke gives him the opportunity he deserves.
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