Illan Meslier makes Leeds United league debut as Kalvin Phillips returns for clash at Hull City

TEEN stopper Illan Meslier makes his Leeds United league debut and Kalvin Phillips returns to the starting line-up for Saturday's Championship clash at Hull City.
LEAGUE DEBUT: For Illan Meslier. Picture by Tony Johnson.LEAGUE DEBUT: For Illan Meslier. Picture by Tony Johnson.
LEAGUE DEBUT: For Illan Meslier. Picture by Tony Johnson.

Meslier starts in net with Spanish 'keeper Kiko Casilla immediately beginning an eight-game ban after the FA found him guilty of using racist language.

France under-20s custodian Meslier, who turns 20 on Monday, therefore makes his first Championship outing for the Whites having so far only featured in the 1-0 loss at Arsenal in the FA Cup third round in January - a game in which the Frenchman played the duration of the match and impressed throughout.

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With Casilla banned, Elia Caprile moves on to the bench as back-up goalkeeper.

Phillips, meanwhile, returns to the side having missed the midweek win at Middlesbrough with a calf injury.

Phillips replaces Gaetano Berardi who drops to the bench in place of Oliver Casey.

The return for Phillips will allow Ben White to slot straight back into his natural position of centre-back.

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Leeds are without striker Jean-Kevin Augustin who misses the game with a hamstring problem while Adam Forshaw is out for the season following hip surgery.

Hull boss Grant McCann has made four changes to his side with former Whites striker and Barnsley loanee Mallik Wilks starting against his former side.

The Tigers have nine players out injured.

Hull City: Long; McKenzie, Pennington, McLoughlin, Elder; Stewart, Da Silva Lopes, Honeyman; Wilks, Magennis, Samuelsen. Substitutes: Ingram, Tafazolli, Kingsley, Irvine, Batty, Maddison, Balogh.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Harrison, Costa, Hernandez, Bamford. Subs: Caprile, Berardi, Alioski, Douglas, Shackleton, Roberts, Stevens.

Referee: K Stroud.

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