Phil Hay details whether Leeds can sign goalkeeper on emergency loan after FA ban Casilla
Leeds United cannot make an emergency loan signing to cover Kiko Casilla’s suspension, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
The FA confirmed on Friday night that Casilla, 33, had been hit with an eight-match ban and fined £60,000 after a charge of racially abusing Jonathan Leko was found proven.
Casilla will not be available to play again for Leeds until Barnsley make their way to Elland Road on April 18 and Illan Meslier is set to start in between the sticks in the meantime.
Meslier, 19, is yet to make his league debut for the Whites but is set to be named in Marcelo Bielsa’s starting line-up for the clash against Hull City at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday.
Leeds fans had been wondering on Twitter whether the Yorkshire giants can make an emergency loan signing to cover Casilla’s suspension.
However one fan who asked former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Hay received a negative response to the question.
It seems that even if Leeds could make an emergency loan signing, they would still stick with Meslier, who impressed in his one and only first-team appearance for the club in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup in January.
Meslier is a good young goalkeeper and while Casilla’s ban is a blow, the French teenager should be able to step up until the ex-Real Madrid man is back.
If Meslier does well enough then maybe he will take Casilla’s spot permanently.
In other Leeds United news, Sue Smith claims Middlesbrough should have had a penalty on Wednesday night.