Leeds to axe Illan Meslier & replace with ‘top-class keeper’ – expert
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke is expected to drop under fire Illan Meslier from the starting lineup this weekend and replace him with Karl Darlow.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who remains closely connected to the club, admitted he believes Farke will “take him out” of the team against Harrogate Town in the FA Cup.
The 24-year-old has been the first-choice goalkeeper at Elland Road since joining the club in 2020, but regular mistakes have led to fans demanding the club moves him on following his latest error against Hull.
Leeds United will rest Illan Meslier this weekend
“He’ll take him out,” Robinson told Football Insider.
“He’s [Daniel Farke] got the perfect opportunity to this weekend to play Harrogate Town in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s a perfect opportunity to put Karl Darlow in for the manager.
“Sometimes as a goalkeeper like that, you make mistakes and you can’t see the woods for the trees sometimes, you just want to keep training and keep playing and get yourself out of the situation.
“But actually sometimes just keeping playing and keeping doing that isn’t the right answer.
“The manager needs to put his arm around you and [say] ‘look I’m going to take you out for a few games, give you a rest and put you back in the team.’
“The one thing you would question is the way that he plays out with his feet. Is he at the level of being able to play out from the back?
“But when he makes mistakes, it affects his confidence…you make silly mistakes when your confidence is low.
“Does he need replacing? No, but he needs taking out the firing line and I play Karl Darlow this weekend.
“When he’s got the opportunity, he’s a top-class goalkeeper, he can do a job, the only thing against him is that he’s not played enough recent top-flight football.
That’s not his fault, he probably wants to see how he goes and then you have the option to go into the market towards the end of January if you need to.”
In other news,