Illan Meslier clocked up his 14th clean sheet in just his 24th Championship outing this season during Leeds United’s win over Derby County – but Meslier also made Leeds history.
Last season, Meslier tied with West Broms Alex Palmer for the Championship golden glove after winning 19 clean sheets in 43 Championship games, excluding the play-offs. He’s closing in on that stat already.
In 19 less games, Meslier is just five clean sheets away from matching last season’s record. Not all is down to the France U21 star, with Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk starring in front of him in Leeds’ back four.
Daniel Farke thinks Rodon and Struijk are the Championship’s best two centre-backs. It’s hard to argue with that, but Meslier deserves praise as well after three straight clean sheets – as he made history.
Illan Meslier clocks up his 200th appearance for Leeds United
It went under the radar slightly, but Meslier was one of two Leeds players to reach a landmark 200 appearances for the Yorkshire side in the win over Derby. Sam Byram also clocked up his 200th outing.
But with Meslier reaching the landmark, he became the first Leeds goalkeeper to reach a double-century of matches for the club since Elland Road icon Nigel Martyn managed the feat back in September 2000.
At just 24 years of age, it is an incredible feat not only given his age but because he is still so young in terms of goalkeepers. Whether Meslier will go on to play 300 times for Leeds remains to be seen.
What Graeme Bailey has said about Illan Meslier’s Leeds future
The chances of Meslier winning more landmarks in a Leeds shirt depends on two things. His current deal at Leeds is due to expire in 18 months, and if Leeds manage to gain promotion to the Premier League.
Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Meslier will leave Leeds if the club fail to gain promotion. Ahead of January, Arsenal, Manchester United, Fiorentina and Rennes have been linked with Meslier.
Bailey says Meslier has eyes on the 2026 World Cup for France and is well aware that he needs to be playing top-tier football in order to achieve a part of the squad – so Leeds need to go up to keep him.
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