The real Joe Gelhardt - Wigan Athletic Under-18s manager Peter Murphy

Wigan Athletic Under-18s manager Peter Murphy gives an insight into Joe Gelhardt - the player and the person - to mark the Young England striker's 18th birthday.
Joe Gelhardt playing for Latics Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup against TottenhamJoe Gelhardt playing for Latics Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup against Tottenham
Joe Gelhardt playing for Latics Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup against Tottenham

“For me, the thing that stood out last year is how enthusiastic he is about playing footy.

“Sometimes it’s about stopping him doing too much.

“Watching him play in the Championship, it’s the same as watching him playing in the park with his mates.

“It’s just a young lad, enjoying what he’s doing.

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“It was funny watching him scores his first goal at Hull at the beginning of the season, because he scored a hat-trick there last season for the Under-18s.

“There must be something about that stadium that he just likes!

“All the lads love him, all the staff love him, and I think that says a lot.

"We were travelling back from Crystal Palace on the same day as the first team were at Hull, keeping tabs on the game.

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“The bus just went mad when he scored, all the lads were absolutely buzzing for him and were texting him.

“He must have received millions of messages after the game but he replied to every single one of them, which shows how grounded he is.

“His family is a big reason for that, and they’ve always followed him up and down the country watching him.

“I just felt so sorry for his mum because she couldn’t make the Hull game and missed his first senior goal!”