---
title: "Leeds: Mateo Joseph in first-team training"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-mateo-joseph-in-first-team-training/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-09-06T16:35:20Z"
modified: "2022-09-06T16:35:20Z"
---

# Leeds: Mateo Joseph in first-team training

**Leeds United youngster Mateo Joseph has joined in with first-team training at Thorp Arch, [Joe Donnohue](https://twitter.com/JoeDonnohue/status/1566860457058750466) of The Yorkshire Evening Post reports.**

### The lowdown

Joseph, an 18-year-old centre-forward, joined Leeds from Espanyol’s Under-19 side in January of this year.

He’s been playing for the Whites’ Under-21 side at Premier League 2 level, and clearly grabbed the attention of Jesse Marsch when he scored [four goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mateo-fernandez/leistungsdaten/spieler/834742) in their season opener against Derby County.

He then followed that up with another strike in a 2-2 draw with Norwich City ten days later.

### The latest

Donnohue [took to Twitter](https://twitter.com/JoeDonnohue/status/1566860457058750466) to share the news about Joseph, who’s been rewarded for an electric start to the season.

He wrote: *“January signing Mateo Joseph has been pictured in training with the* *#LUFC first-team following his five-goal start to the U21s’ PL2 campaign.”*

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### The verdict

Leeds are down a centre forward option at the moment, and so there may be an opportunity for Joseph to make his debut in some capacity.

His fellow Spaniard Rodrigo [faces up to a month on the sidelines](https://theathletic.com/3557352/2022/09/01/leeds-rodrigo-injury/) after dislocating his shoulder against Everton last week.

Perhaps Joseph, training amongst the senior stars at Thorp Arch, can make his case for a place in the squad against Nottingham Forest on Monday.

If he proves he can cope with the step-up in quality and physicality, then perhaps Jesse Marsch will be tempted.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389016″\]

The manager has [already said publicly](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-jesse-marsch-bamford-24802117) that Joseph is ‘inching closer and closer to first-team possibilities’.

His coach Michael Skubala called him ‘brilliant’ after his four goals against Derby, and also raved about the player’s application.

*“I’ve been here a week and what an athlete Mateo is and what a kid he is, first of all,”* [he said](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-mateo-joseph-skubala-24686584).

*“He works hard, his attitude is brilliant and I look at him and think ‘what you could be for a Leeds player’. If I’m watching that as a fan I’m thinking ‘Wow! I want him in the team’. Today I thought he showed his qualities, he absolutely showed his quality, his spinning in behind and getting four goals.*

*“I thought he was exciting today.”*