Waiting in the wings - or relying on them?

Leeds United lead the Championship's scoring charts with 48 goals this season, yet there is a constant concern about the lack of a number nine regularly finding the net.

Mateo Joseph busted a gut to discover the Midas touch in front of goal against Harrogate Town in the FA Cup after being given another chance to start by manager Daniel Farke.

He failed to make contact with a great cross at the near post which he then struck moments later. It was almost cruel as Joseph laboured too hard thereafter to add to his two strikes this season, the last of which came three months ago in the 2-0 victory over Sheffield United.

Since then, 17 appearances later, admittedly 13 of which have been from the bench, he has yet to add a third.

You feel there is a lot of goodwill towards the 21-year-old forward who struck twice at Chelsea in the FA Cup last season to not only announce himself but suggest he could be the main man, certainly in the Championship.

Having started as first choice, he has essentially fallen behind Joel Piroe in the pecking order, and the Dutchman is already into double figures.

However, Joseph has kept a returning Patrick Bamford at bay even when the once-capped England international had recovered from another injury before being side-lined again with a hamstring problem which is set to keep him out this month. Bamford has started just one of the eleven matches he has featured in this term and has failed to trouble the net.

Out-of-favour Joe Gelhardt, despite Bamford's continuing woe, has been allowed to complete a loan move to Hull City. With two and a half years left on his contract and just two league starts under Daniel Farke since the German arrived in the summer of 2024, Gelhardt needs games. He has not scored for almost 18 months.

It leaves United light in the striker department although Farke insists the club "will stay awake" while reiterating he expects "a quiet window". Goals are coming from elsewhere in Brenden Aaronson and the wide men but, for some, there is a feeling Leeds could be caught waiting in the wings with promotion in sight.

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