Huge boost: Beren Cross drops early Leeds United team news hint, it's a game-changer - opinion

Beren Cross has dropped a promising injury update regarding Leeds United centre-forward Joe Gelhardt.

In a recent post on Twitter, the Leeds Live journalist revealed that, having played just 32 minutes of football over Leeds’ last four Premier League fixtures as a result of injury, the 19-year-old striker now appears to be fully fit and firing ahead of the meeting with Crystal Palace on Monday evening, as well as the remainder of the top-flight run-in.

Concerning the teenager’s current condition, Cross said: “Fully fit for the run-in.”

Considering just how impressive Gelhardt has been throughout his breakthrough campaign in the Leeds United first team, in addition to the fact that the Whites’ first-choice number nine, Patrick Bamford, remains sidelined until at least May, the news that the England U21 international is now fully fit is something of a game-changer for Jesse Marsch.

Indeed, over his 14 Premier League appearances this season – only two of which have come as starts – the £4.5m-rated hitman has bagged an extremely impressive two goals and registered three assists – averaging a direct goal involvement every 97 minutes of football played.

For comparison, Daniel James – who has often been deployed at centre-forward in the absence of Bamford – has registered a direct goal involvement every 333 minutes of top-flight football this term.

As such, while the Whites’ recent run of three wins and one draw over their last four league fixtures has substantially eased the club’s relegation concerns, the fact that Gelhardt now appears to be available for the Palace meeting, not to mention the remaining five games of the 2021/22 campaign, is sure to come as a huge boost to Marsch and his side – as the £16.5k-per-week