Joe Gelhardt has admitted that he wasn’t supposed to play as a lone striker at Sunderland.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the striker revealed that Tony Mowbray had planned to play him alongside Ross Stewart following his loan move.
Gelhardt joined Sunderland from Leeds United during the January transfer window as the club looked to bring in some much-needed attacking reinforcements.
However, Mowbray’s plans came crashing down when Stewart’s season ended with an Achilles injury only a day after Gelhardt arrived on Wearside.
With the 21-year-old then the only fit striker at the club, he was forced to play out the remainder of the campaign as a solo number nine.
“When I spoke to Tony Mowbray the Sunderland manager he said that I was supposed to play with Ross Stewart, but when he got injured Tony said you’re probably going to play up front on your own,” Gelhardt told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“I’ve played there before, I didn’t see it as much of a problem but it was tough some games, big centre-halves, strong and physical.
“Sometimes it can be lonely up there on your own but I felt as though at the end of the season I got better and got used to it more and I enjoyed it.”
Gelhardt has been linked with a move to Serie A club Lecce this summer and could be once again on his way out of Leeds United, despite their relegation.
Joe Gelhardt helped Sunderland reach the Championship play-offs
Many fans felt Sunderland’s chances of reaching the play-offs were all but over when Ross Stewart was forced off in the FA Cup clash with Fulham, however the team didn’t show any signs of a struggle.
While Joe Gelhardt was limited to three goals and three assists, he went through a couple of purple patches in which he looked excellent for the Black Cats. The young forward was able to turn his defenders easily and was winning free-kicks all over the pitch.
While there was certainly a fair few very underwhelming performances, Gelhardt proved to be a pivotal player in their run for the play-offs. We will never know whether the club could have taken it one step further with Stewart next to him.