MOT View: Leeds youngster can prove Sky Sports pundit wrong once season resumes
Paul Robinson has claimed that Leeds United need to add more experience to their goalkeeping department if they win promotion – but Illan Meslier could prove the ex-England international wrong once the season resumes.
Kiko Casilla, on the balance of everything, has had an awful season for Leeds even though the 33-year-old kept 15 clean sheets in 35 Championship appearances.
He made way too many errors for a goalkeeper playing for a club gunning for promotion and a lot of fans do not want to see him play for the Whites again due to him racially abusing Jonathan Leko in September and the rise of 20-year-old Meslier in his absence.
Meslier has made just three appearances for Leeds this term but in all three of those appearances, he has been impressive.
The French youngster made his debut in English football in January when Leeds lost 1-0 to Arsenal in the FA Cup.
Although he didn’t keep a clean sheet, Meslier completed 100 per cent of his passes and made three saves – two of which being reflex saves – in the defeat at the Emirates [WyScout].
It was a great start for Meslier, who has since gone on to play twice in the Championship for Leeds and keep successive clean sheets against Hull and Huddersfield.
He wasn’t tested as much in those matches but the fact he held his nerve and played a role in the Whites winning six out of six points says a lot about his potential.
Former Leeds and England goalkeeper Robinson, however, remains unconvinced that Meslier could step up to the Premier League with the Yorkshire giants.
Meslier is on loan at Elland Road but Leeds United have the option to sign him in the summer on a permanent basis from Lorient.
Based on his form that is likely to happen but Sky Sports pundit Robinson has recently told MOT Leeds News in an exclusive interview that the Whites could do with more experience in that role.
But why not take a chance on Meslier?
He hasn’t let anyone down yet and moving into a league where he’s going to be tested a lot more often due to stronger opposition could be the making of him.
Leeds have always shown faith in young players – Robinson should know that.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared an inkling he has about Ben White’s future at the club based on recent talks.