Marcelo Bielsa hails Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier after Hull victory

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Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa praised goalkeeper Illan Meslier for his performance on his Championship debut at the weekend, with his only previous senior appearance for the club coming in the FA Cup against Arsenal.

With first-choice goalkeeper Kiko Casilla unavailable as he begins an eight-game ban for racial abuse, it presented the opportunity for Meslier to get his chance.

The 19-year-old kept a clean sheet during an impressive 4-0 away victory against Hull City.

Luke Ayling, Pablo Hernandez and Tyler Roberts (two) were all on the scoresheet for the Whites to extended the team’s winning run to four consecutive matches.

The Yorkshire giants travel to Huddersfield Town next weekend in their next league match and have hit a purple patch of the form an ideal time in the season to strengthen their automatic promotion bid.

Bielsa gave credit to teenager Maslier following his individual display.

“Calm, confident, he took risks, good in the aerial play, gave us feeling he is confident,” Bielsa said, as quoted by Leeds Live.

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Bielsa sounded pleased to see Meslier take risks in playing out from the back at the weekend and he’s a goalkeeper that is more than capable in playing that style.

The Frenchman was a little wayward with some of his passes and may have felt the nerves of his first appearance in the Championship, but overall he looked composed in net.

He didn’t have too much to do in terms of difficult saves, but is a presence in the box with his height and a clean sheet should boost his confidence.

Leeds are usually extremely organised as a defensive unit and there’s no reason why rising talent Meslier can’t continue to do a good job in goal during the coming weeks.