Jesse Marsch has been advised to consider bringing in experienced goalkeeping cover for Illan Meslier this summer if Leeds United want to help their young French talent reach a higher level.
The American coach has made a solid start to life in the Elland Road dugout. A four-match unbeaten run, which includes wins over Norwich, Wolves and Watford, means the Whites can breathe a tad easier in the relegation dogfight. As things stand, they are currently eight points clear of the drop zone.
However, 18th-placed Burnley can still make life uncomfortable for United and 17th-placed Everton who sandwich the two sides. Indeed, the managerless Clarets play twice – against Southampton on Thursday and Wolves on Sunday – before Leeds play again.
Therefore, the Whites will probably need to put some more points on the board before they can start to breathe more easy.
Of course, for Leeds, they have been beset by a number of injury issues this season. Patrick Bamford has missed the majority of the season and now looks like he’s done until 2022/23.
And just as damaging for Leeds has been the long-term absences of Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips. The pair only just returned to action in recent games after rupturing hamstrings on December 5.
Virtually ever-present Meslier
Thankfully for Leeds, their goalkeeper Meslier has been virtually an ever-present this season. Aside from his enforced injury substitution in the win at Molineux, the France U21 international has not missed a moment’s action.
Indeed, he has been largely unopposed as Leeds United No 1 since taking over from Kiko Casilla in 2020.
Leeds do have a couple of other young keepers on their books in Kristoffer Klaesson and Dani van den Heuvel. However, they lack any sort of experience should Meslier succumb to injury or suspension at any stage.
And while Klaesson did extremely well when coming in cold against Wolves, it’s a precarious position for any Premier League side to be in.