Glandular fever put Illan Meslier within a few days of missing Leeds United’s return to Premier League action after the World Cup break. All eyes were on his understudies and whether they had enough about them to fill the not insignificant void left by the Frenchman.
Kristoffer Klaesson, only eight months younger than Meslier, has long been seen as the heir apparent to the number one, but Joel Robles’s August arrival put the cat among the pigeons. The 32-year-old has not only brought experience, nous and mentorship to the goalkeeper group, but real competition for the shirt.
Jesse Marsch was keen to make a change in that department this season and bring in someone experienced to complement the youngsters. The landscape has shifted since the former Everton stopper arrived.
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Klaesson has been on the bench for 13 of United’s 20 matches this season and Robles the other seven, but, crucially, the Spaniard has had the two starts when Meslier has been unable to play. It’s competition for places Meslier has savoured with the advantages it brings to training on a daily basis.
“Yes, this is really important for me and for everyone else, for the whole club,” he said. “For there to be good players who can come into the team if needed, it’s important for the team.
“If something happens, for the team it’s good to know they can rely on a good goalkeeper to come in. Recently, we have seen Kris and Joel play and they did good jobs, they work hard in training and well done to them.
“They want to help me and I want to help them. We are a close group. That’s important for me, to have people help me, because with this help I can make better performances.”
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