BBC pundit claims nervous Leeds ace will need protecting v Huddersfield
Noel Whelan has admitted that Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier will need protecting against Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
The BBC pundit expects the Terriers to pose much more of a threat than Hull City did on the Frenchman’s league debut with it being a West Yorkshire derby.
Whelan does believe that Meslier looked shaky in possession at the KCOM Stadium, but that he was impressed with his authority in the air.
Meslier will make his second Championship appearance of the season, and Whelan claims he will need similar protection to Kiko Casilla has needed.
“The good thing is that he was very well protected (v Hull), very much like Casilla was for the last three games,” he told Football Insider.
“It’s one of those where he’s going to need that protection again. It’s going to be a different kettle of fish, you’ve got Huddersfield who are on a decent run, it’s a Yorkshire derby which adds a little bit more spice, more pressure to it.
“He didn’t really have a great deal to do, what he did do was a couple of balls in the air, he had to climb over a couple of bodies which he was confident enough to do. It shows he’s got confidence, believes his ability.
“His ball distribution was a little bit shaky at first, probably just a few nerves.”
Marcelo Bielsa will have been delighted with Meslier’s performance, and although he made some little mistakes – he made sure that things such as misplaced passes were unable to be punished by finding touch rather than an opposition player.
Meslier actually completed more successful passes than any Hull player managed on the pitch, and he will be expected to be a similar outlet on Saturday afternoon.
Huddersfield may be tipped to want to put pressure on the youngster, but they will need sustained possession to do that, and it is questionable whether they’ll have that at Elland Road.
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