‘Definitely got the ability’: Leeds ace raves about ‘amazing’ 20-year-old

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Leeds United forward Tyler Roberts has spoken highly of Elland Road teammate Illan Meslier, telling the Yorkshire Evening Post that the Whites goalkeeper showed real confidence in their Championship victory at the weekend.

Ahead of Leeds taking on Middlesbrough in Saturday’s early kickoff, Marcelo Bielsa found himself without the services of Kiko Casilla, who had been hit with an eight-match ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Charlton Athletic’s Jonathan Leko.

That meant young Leeds on-loan stopper Meslier had to come in for his first Championship appearance, and just his second appearance in all competitions, having made his debut against Arsenal in the FA Cup earlier this year.

The 20-year-old barely put a foot wrong against Hull, claiming shots and high balls without too much trouble, and kept a clean sheet as the Leeds outfielders also did their job superbly, putting four past the beleaguered Tigers.

“Obviously it’s come out late on Friday night so it’s a quick turnaround for the likes of Illan Meslier,” Roberts told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “But this is a big moment for him and it was good for him to get the clean sheet as well. He was confident, he tried things and he’s definitely got the ability so it will be good for him to show it in this run of games.

“We all knew as soon as he came in that he was a great keeper and he showed that at Arsenal. The confidence that he had on that pitch and that kind of stage for his age as well was amazing. He is trying what the manager wants him to try, he’s not backing out of things, he’s being confident and he’s commanding so I think it’s good for the defenders to have him behind them as well.”

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Second major test for Meslier in the Leeds first team and he has very much passed with flying colours, providing an assured performance for the Whites as they continued their winning run.

There will be sterner tests for the Lorient-owned man, but having also done well against Arsenal in the FA Cup, it looks as though Casilla’s absence may not be such a huge blow after all.

A report from Ouest France last September said Meslier was reportedly open to a permanent move to Leeds, if chances come his way, and given he now two senior appearances under his belt – not to mention saying “the style Leeds play is perfect for me” – it certainly bodes well for the future.