'Impressive' - Boss hails emerging Leeds United youngster from 21s with Whites shirt future hope

Twenty-year-old striker Mateo Joseph bagged his first minutes under Farke when brought on as a late substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers and the forward’s absence from last night’s under-21s squad suggests that the youngster could be involved again in tonight’s clash at Sunderland.

Joseph, an England under-20s international, was brought on in just the 89th minute of the weekend win at Ewood Park but his short outing on the pitch which included eight minutes of added time impressed his manager. The forward featured prominently in pre-season for Leeds upon Farke’s arrival at the club but the Spanish-born attacker then suffered an ankle injury which Farke said was a particularly big blow for a young player trying to force his way in.

Yet Joseph has since returned to impress for both United’s under-21s and now first team, much to the delight of his manager who has urged the striker to continue on the same path for a bright future in the game and potentially “lots of joy” in Whites colours.

"I think it was a pretty impressive pre-season,” said Farke, asked how he had developed Joseph and how he had improved. "Sadly he had this long term injury where he was out and especially for a young player who has to earn his place, it's always difficult when you're out for several weeks.

"Then you have to be patient but also work harder than more or less all the others in order to come back and this is what he has done in the last weeks. I was pretty impressed. Although he was not always called up for the traveling squad, I spoke a lot with him and we speak about tactical things, about what he can improve and has to improve in his game but also about the soft skills and I have to praise him for his attitude because he is always on it.

"Even sometimes when he is not in the game-day squad he is working harder and then he also tries to shine then for example in games at under 21 level and this is what you have to do as a young player when you are not involved.

"For that, it was no gift for him (at Blackburn) but I got the feeling that he's ready right now to improve us and to shine. Yes, it was just 10 or 15 minutes on the pitch but he has used his chance with a good performance and this was definitely, definitely a good shift.

"In this way, he has to keep going and then he will definitely have a bright future in the game and we will all hopefully have lots of joy and fun with him here in a Leeds shirt. We are all happy that we have him.”