Sky Sports pundit backs ‘top-class’ Illan Meslier despite ‘tough time’ at Leeds United
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson has backed Illan Meslier to return to form for Leeds United despite a number of high-profile errors in recent weeks.
The Frenchman was responsible for goals against Fulham and Bournemouth, with there being calls for the 23-year-old to be dropped.
However, Robinson believes Meslier has the quality and mental strength to play through this bad run of form during the last four games of the 2022/23 season.
“He’s a top-class goalkeeper who has had an excellent time at Leeds since he started. This is the first time that he’s come under pressure,” Robinson exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“If you had an excellent number two, then you may look at doing that [dropping him]. I think he can play through, he’s got the quality, it’s now about mental strength now.
“He’s been unlucky at times. The thing you can say about him is that he’s still wanting to come for crosses.
“He’s still making the right decisions. The goal against Fulham, he’s unlucky, it’s fallen straight to a striker and it goes in.
“There are certain times when you’re not playing well, that happens to you as a goalkeeper. When you’re in a little bit of a rut and things are going against you, this happens.
“The performance at Bournemouth he won’t be happy with, I just think he’s a top-class goalkeeper who is low on confidence at the moment as if the rest of the side.
“They shipped a record number of goals in the last month, and this is a really tough time for him.
“One guarantee is that he will become stronger on the other side of this. Regardless of what the end game is. I have no doubt about his mental strength and mental ability.
“His quality is there, he just has to stick to basics. He did that against Leicester, playing direct and keeping things simple. I don’t think there’s enough quality to replace him.”
In other Leeds news, Angus Kinnear has convinced another coach to join the club after a 9am phone call.