Medical expert: Illan Meslier may need protective equipment amid Leeds update on ‘nasty’ injury
Leeds United star Illan Meslier will face Southampton on Saturday (2 Apri) but may wear protective equipment to see him through.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Meslier, 22, was one of four Leeds players forced off with injury during the dramatic 3-2 win at Wolves on 18 March.
The French goalkeeper was replaced by Kristoffer Klaesson 10 minutes into the second half following a collision with Raul Jiminez.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported on Tuesday (29 March) that Meslier is yet to return to training at Thorp Arch.
But Dinnery predicts that, while he may need to wear padding, the shot-stopper should still be available against the Saints.
“It was very, very painful,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“He hasn’t trained in the first week of the international break but Leeds are fairly confident for the Southampton game.
“It may be that he has some sort of protective padding to help that area. But I’m fairly confident this will just be a case of pain management.
“It was a nasty one that forced him off but I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t available for the game against Southampton.”
Meslier has started all 30 of Leeds’ league matches this season.
Jesse Marsch’s side have won their last two matches and are currently 16th in the Premier League, seven points clear of the bottom three.
In other news, pundit claims West Ham will beat Leeds United in transfer battle amid “huge” claim.