Leeds United

Leeds United: Phil Hay believes Illan Meslier could play against Manchester City

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Image for Leeds United: Phil Hay believes Illan Meslier could play against Manchester City

Phil Hay believes that Illan Meslier could start Leeds United’s next game despite suffering from glandular fever.

Jesse Marsch confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Leeds’ number one shot-stopper Meslier has been suffering from glandular fever and couldn’t guarantee that the Frenchman would lineup between the sticks on Wednesday night.

Meslier hasn’t featured in any of Leeds’ midseason friendlies which has certainly raised doubt about whether or not he’ll be ready to go in just a few days time, and if he was to be absent it would be a baptism of fire for Kristoffer Klaesson or Joel Robles to make their full league debut for Leeds.

Hay offered some positive news on The Phil Hay Show as he admitted that Meslier could still return to the starting lineup against champions Manchester City.

(4:10) “Marsch was hoping and seemed to be implying that everybody else at the very least would have an outside chance [of playing against Man City] including Illan Meslier who’s had glandular fever, and we’ll maybe talk a little bit more about that and why it’s a problem for him.

Will Meslier start against Man City?

Yes!

Yes!

No!

No!

“But he is due to have another check on his viral load checking his bloods and I think again, if he gets the all-clear, he could well play against Manchester City even though he’s been out for a couple of weeks.”

TIF Thoughts on Meslier…

It’s great news for Leeds that Marsch believes everyone has a chance, even Meslier who’s been missing as of late, however, he does still need to be given the all-clear by doctors and the medical staff before taking to the field.

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Given that Leeds won’t be expecting much, if anything, from their game against Man City, Marsch may well see fit that Meslier is given a few extra days to rest and then be fit for their away trip to Newcastle United.

However, if Leeds were to get anything against Man City then they would need their keeper to be on top form and given Meslier has already made 44 saves in the division and based on his performance at Anfield earlier in the season, not many would back against him keeping Leeds in the game for as long as possible.

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