Daniel Farke has had to make use of his squad at Leeds United since the international break.
The Whites lost a number of players through injury while they were away representing their respective countries, and so it has been important for others to step up.
Leeds were actually a long way from their best in either of the two matches over the Easter period, but were still able to take four points to keep them very much in the mix for the top two.
While promotion rivals Ipswich Town have been kings of the late show this season, Leeds were also forced to do it twice in both of their last two matches.
Mateo Joseph was the hero at Watford just moments after coming off the bench, while Crysencio Summerville scored even later from a penalty in which he won against Hull City.
Hay says Farke prefers £900k ace ahead of 24-year-old at Leeds right now
Leeds have had one of the best benches across the entire Championship pretty much all season, and that strength in depth has been a big factor behind their success.
Over the last couple of months, Dan James has been thriving in that super sub role, while Connor Roberts has made a significant impact a couple of times too. Others such as Willy Gnonto, Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe have also had plenty of matches on the bench.
However, it is one of Leeds’ youngsters who has been the most effective sub over the last few weeks. Joseph has changed a number of games in which he has been introduced late into, including the one in which he scored at Watford.
Joseph was even chosen to come off the bench ahead of Piroe on Monday, and speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, Phil Hay now thinks the Spaniard is the preferred option over the 24-year-old right now.
He said: “The complication here [with penalties] is Piroe is essentially first choice penalty taker but can’t get a game. He is not getting many minutes at the moment and even on Monday night when the first change had to come, it was Joseph who came on for Bamford, rather than Piroe.
“This would suggest there has been if not a change of hierarchy, a change in Farke’s head as to who is most likely to make an impact. I would go along with that at the moment and would expect from the bench from Joseph than Piroe.”
Joseph now pushing to dislodge Bamford after overtaking Piroe
Though Joseph has now seemingly overtaken Piroe in Farke’s pecking order, he is still awaiting his first ever league start for Leeds.
The £900k ace could not have done much more in recent weeks in order to be rewarded with one, as he just continues to impact games off the bench.
He has also already shown in the FA Cup tie at Chelsea when he starts, and that was even against quality Premier League opposition.
Farke has already hinted Bamford will keep his place for today’s huge Championship match at Coventry City, but he really cannot be far off starting now.