Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa says Joe Gelhardt deserves his playing chance.
Gelhardt made his his first Premier League start in defeat to Tottenham last week.
Bielsa said, "When I put a non habitual player in the starting 11 it is because I'm convinced that he can offer a positive result.
"It doesn't surprise me that he's able to compete at this level but he's worked a lot to gain these opportunities that he's been given."
Bielsa on Brighton who they will face in Saturday's late kick-off:
"They are a teat that's flexible in the way that they line up and they play players in different positions, they do this very naturally and efficiently."
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