Leeds United loanee's verdict on January transfer recall amid Elland Road goals problem
Joe Gelhardt can’t stop scoring for Hull City amid ongoing issues for parent club Leeds United.
Out-on-loan Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt is unaware of any recall option in his Hull City deal with focus solely on continuing his impressive form at the MKM Stadium.
Gelhardt bagged his eighth goal of the season in Hull’s 3-2 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday having claimed the Championship’s October Goal of the Month award earlier last week. The 23-year-old finished a sweeping team move against Leicester City and might also have his hat in the ring for the November award for a beautiful touch and finish in a 3-2 win at home to Portsmouth.
Those efforts form part of an excellent individual period for Gelhardt who has scored six goals in his last seven appearances for Hull, sparking calls among sections of the Leeds fanbase for a January recall. The Liverpudlian’s parent club have scored 11 times in 12 games this season, better only than rock-bottom Wolves, but a mid-season return to Elland Road is not in his thoughts.
“I got asked this the other day. I haven’t heard anything from Leeds, to be fair, about a recall,” Gelhardt told Sky Sports’ Essential EFL podcast. “There might be a recall option, but I leave that up to my agent.
“I don’t really focus on that. I’m just focused on playing football. At the minute, I’m a Hull City player so I’m proud to wear the shirt whenever I put it on and I’ll continue to do that.”
Joe Gelhardt loving life back at Hull City
Gelhardt’s initial six-month move to Hull in January saw him score five times to help stave off relegation last season but this time round, his goals are fuelling a play-off push. The Tigers fell to sixth following last weekend’s defeat at QPR but remain part of a tightly-packed group between third and 10th ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Ipswich Town.
If Hull are to return to winning ways, chances are Gelhardt will be heavily involved with the on-loan Leeds man’s influence growing by the week. And he attributes that to regular football, good teammates and feeling happy back at the MKM Stadium.
"It was the main place I wanted to come in the summer after last season," Gelhardt added. "I loved it here last year, from the fans to the staff to the players to living here. I'm buzzing to be back and thankful that I am. I think we have had a good start and hopefully we keep it going.
"I think it is a confidence thing. I am playing with good players who give me chances to score. How well we are doing helps attackers, and we are getting results. Being happy where I am and enjoying my time all adds to the goals. As a forward you need a good run of games to get sharp. The manager has trusted me with that here and I am trying to repay him every time."