Leeds United’s Illan Meslier has the potential to become France’s No1 goalkeeper, according to Tony Cascarino.
Meslier has impressed for Leeds this season, keeping nine clean sheets in 27 Premier League appearances so far.
The Frenchman broke Joe Hart’s record of seven Premier League clean sheets before the age of 21, reaching eight shut-outs before his 21st birthday on March 2.
He was in the headlines again this weekend, making eight saves to help Marcelo Bielsa’s side achieve a 0-0 draw against Chelsea on Saturday.
Only West Bromwich Albion’s Sam Johnstone (115) has made more saves in the Premier League than Meslier (110) this season and former Chelsea striker Cascarino is full of praise for his recent performances.
“Few players in the Premier League have a more demanding job than Illan Meslier,” he wrote for The Times.
“Aged just 21, the Leeds United goalkeeper has had to master Marcelo Bielsa's high-octane style of play which requires him to think quickly with his feet under pressure.
“He has made a fair few mistakes this season but they do not seem to have knocked his confidence. If anything, the experience has made him a better goalkeeper and with every passing week he is looking more assured.
“Meslier's ability to keep cool under pressure comes from his formative years at Lorient in France where he competed in the youth cup aged 15 up against 20-year-old men.
“It is exciting to think how good he could become. Meslier stands at 6ft 6in and still has a wiry frame.
“As he continues to grow and develop his upper body strength, he will become an even more fearsome physical presence in the box.
“I think [we] are looking at the future No 1 for the French national team.”
Meslier is yet to be called up for France’s senior side, but has been capped all the way up to the Under-20 level.
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Should he earn a call-up to Didier Deschamps’ squad, the youngster will face stern competition from France and Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris, Marseille’s Steve Mandanda and Fulham’s Paris Saint-Germain loanee Alphonse Areola.
Although only four goalkeepers have conceded more goals than Meslier (45) in the Premier League this season, he has been a consistent performer for Leeds.
His form is even more impressive when you consider that Meslier only established himself in Bielsa’s side last season after Kiko Casilla was banned for eight games for racially abusing Charlton forward Jonathan Leko.
