‘In all honesty’ – Exclusive: Robinson reveals whether Casilla should start for Leeds v Barnsley
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson has said that it would be “very unwise” to put Kiko Casilla back in the starting XI for Leeds against Barnsley on Thursday.
Casilla is available for selection after his eight-game ban for racist abuse and he has been training with the Leeds team throughout his absence.
In his pre-match press conference, Marcelo Bielsa said he was available but that he would talk with his players before announcing the decision.
Robinson doesn’t think Bielsa will put him back in the side.
Talking exclusively to MOT Leeds News Robinson said, “Meslier has done well. He’s got two clean sheets the last two games so it would be very harsh on him to bring Casilla straight back into the team.
“They’re stable at the back, he makes good decisions, he’s starting to show the levels of distribution we know he’s capable of. I don’t think he should lose his place and I don’t think the manager will drop him in all honesty.
“He’s done nothing wrong and he’s played well. That’s what Leeds need at this time. I think it would risk destabilising the team if they dropped him now.
“I think It would be a very unwise decision to leave him out now.
“As for his future, we’ll have to see at the end of the season and what the manager wants from him.
“He’s spent a lot of his career as a number two/three. If he’s happy enough to do that in the Premier League, knowing he’ll play in the cups, he might stay anyway.”
We can’t believe that Casilla will be put straight back into the team.
With the Black Lives Matter centre stage and players taking the knee before each match in solidarity, it would seem bizarre to have Casilla back as if nothing had happened.
We think it’s a decision that Leeds need to make at the end of the season and we think Meslier will keep the gloves until then.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Relentless’ – Sky pundit predicts top-two race will be blown wide open as Leeds face Barnsley