The Leeds United squad are set to reassemble in the next 24 hours as their international star players start returning to Thorp Arch. Daniel Farke and his staff have a tough job ahead of them as they prepare and select a team for their trip to Fulham on Saturday.
Leeds have sort of defied expectations at the start of the season. They were touted as favourites to get relegated, but have made a solid start, earning four points from their opening three Premier League games.
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The Whites are now being backed to stay up and finish above the relegation zone. However, Farke is aware that a good start amounts to nothing if they cannot sustain the results in the coming weeks and months.
Leeds are scheduled to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, and the squad are dealing with a few injury issues at the moment. However, the setbacks are set to provide a huge lifeline to Illan Meslier.
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Leeds United star Illan Meslier set to receive a lifeline at Elland Road
Meslier was expected to leave Leeds, but the club failed to find a suitable buyer for the Frenchman, who is one of the top earners in the squad.
Lucas Perri is now the first-choice goalkeeper in the squad, and the Frenchman has now dropped further down the pecking order below Karl Darlow.
However, Meslier has now been thrown an unexpected lifeline to rescue his Leeds career from the dying embers this week.
Perri has picked up an injury in training and is now doubtful for the clash against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.
If the Brazilian does not travel to London, Meslier could be back in the matchday squad or even get an opportunity to start for Leeds for the first time since March.
Meslier has not been a part of a single matchday squad this season, even in the EFL Cup game against Sheffield Wednesday.
Will Meslier start at Fulham?
Farke supported Meslier for months last season until his errors became too frequent, and Darlow was brought in to steady the ship towards the end of the promotion campaign.
The Welshman is the understudy to Perri, and if the Brazilian is injured, Darlow should logically start against Fulham on Saturday.
However, Meslier is still considered a talented goalkeeper, and if Perri is out for an extended period of time, the Frenchman could be allowed to resurrect his Leeds career.
He is still on top wages at Leeds, and the club may want to get something out of him as long as he is still at Elland Road.
Meslier’s contract is set to expire next summer, and he could agree a pre-contract with another club in the winter transfer window. However, if Leeds want to put him up for sale in January, they cannot afford for him to stay out in the cold for the next couple of months.
Leeds may need the Frenchman to play for him to attract buyers for an exit in the winter transfer window, and Perri’s injury could provide him that opportunity.
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