Mateo Joseph is on the verge of making his Leeds United league debut.
Joseph has made two starts this season, both in the FA Cup, but his impact off the bench is growing, and a full league debut is not far away.
The 20-year-old scored his first professional league goal just seconds after entering the pitch against Watford on Good Friday to save Leeds a point.
He had previously made a spectacular start for Leeds against Chelsea in February, scoring twice in a 3-2 loss, demonstrating what he is capable of when given the opportunity.
Since then, Joseph’s confidence has risen in all of his cameo appearances. He played a significant role in Leeds’ 1-0 victory over Stoke City in March and also helped turn the game against Hull City on Monday.
Joseph says £7 million. Leeds player has actually helped him a lot behind the scenes.
Prior to this season, Joseph had only made one start for the club, in a Carabao Cup loss to Wolves in late 2022. However, it is fair to assume that he has grown much physically since then.
As a young player in a scenario as stressful as Leeds’ promotion campaign right now, Joseph will be looking to some of the older, more experienced heads to assist him through.
However, Joseph has shown no symptoms of being under pressure in his two FA Cup outings, demonstrating exactly what he is capable of.
Speaking on the Official Leeds United Podcast, Joseph named Patrick Bamford, his competition for the number nine spot, as someone who has helped him gain confidence behind the scenes.
He said: “Yeah, like I mentioned in my previous interview, Patrick Bamford came to me before the Plymouth and Chelsea games to offer me some ideas on how to improve my confidence and rhythm. I told him that he had helped me a lot and that I was quite appreciative.
“Then players like Junior Firpo and Liam Cooper gave me confidence before the games, and told me I just have to be like in training and will be more than fine. It’s great to have faith in athletes like them who have accomplished so much in their careers.”
Joseph could now be about to take Bamford’s place at Leeds
Bamford’s performances have plummeted since the international break, for whatever reason, but he will always be seen as a leader by many in the squad.
The £7 million man has extensive experience with the ups and downs of football, and this is not the first time he has been singled out as being particularly beneficial to younger players.
However, at this point in the season, form is everything, and there is no doubt that Joseph is now providing the best performances, despite playing in fewer games.
Given his recent influence, Daniel Farke should undoubtedly bite the bullet on Saturday and give him his first league start.
