A closer look at Illan Meslier with Frenchman replacing Kiko Casilla in Leeds United's crucial run-in

Meslier, though, has yet to play a single minute of Championship football for the Whites with the teen's sole outing for United coming in the FA Cup.

United signed France under-20s 'keeper Meslier on a season-long loan from Ligue Two side FC Lorient last August and the teenager quickly started to impress for United's under-23s, especially with his penalty saves.

Since joining from Lorient, his shot stopping ability has been clear from the start along with the way he has commanded the box when required.

The most impressive aspect of his play, though, has been his distribution. It isn’t a joke when people say he looks like a midfielder in goal.

Carlos Corberan’s side adopt the same style as Bielsa’s first team and he has been required to take a leading role in playing out from the back and has thrived.

Meslier has also made a handful of penalty saves across the season.

United’s development squad are unbeaten in league action since October and he has played a key role in that run of form.

As far as first team action is concerned, Meslier was handed his Whites debut in the third round FA Cup clash at Arsenal on January 6 and again impressed with a strong display against the Gunners.

With the threat of Casilla being banned for allegations of racism in the loss at Charlton Athletic at the end of September looming, Whites head coach Bielsa was then quizzed about what plan would be in place should the Spaniard be forced to sit out a prolonged sequence of games.

"Meslier is the option if Kiko doesn’t play," said Bielsa last Thursday.

"In this situation or in others.

"When he plays the direction of him was in the level of our expectations.

"Honestly for a long time I didn’t see a young player like him with resources like him.

“You also verified this against Arsenal.”

Meslier - who will turn 20 on Monday - arrived from Lorient capped for France at under-18s, under-19s and under-20s level and with a big reputation as a talented young 'keeper.

The shotstopper is a commanding presence at six-foot-six but Casilla's ban will now throw the Frenchman straight in at the deep end with the FA announcing the ban just 17 hours before United's next fixture.

Meslier will now start in goal at Hull and United's next eight games also take in clashes at Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City as well as home fixtures against Huddersfield Town, Fulham, Luton Town and Stoke City.

The eight-game ban handed by the FA to Casilla on Friday evening forces him to sit out matters until Leeds welcome Barnsley to Elland Road on Saturday, April 18.

A trip to Derby County and then home clash against Charlton Athletic then finishes the Championship campaign.

There were calls for Meslier to be handed a chance sooner during Casilla's poor run of form earlier this month with individual errors leading to goals for Wigan Athletic, Nottingham Forest and Brentford as United took just one point from those three games.

Casilla, though, rode that storm, bouncing back with three clean sheets in three consecutive 1-0 victories at home to Bristol City and Reading and away at Middlesbrough.

Casilla looked all set to then seek a fourth consecutive clean sheet against Boro.

Yet Meslier will now be the man facing that task at the KCOM in a bid to confirm the abundant promise shown so far when it matters the most with the Whites 11 games away from the Premier League.