Sky Sports EFL pundit David Prutton has suggested that Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier delivered an encouraging performance for the Whites in their 4-0 win at Hull City, in what was his first league start for the club.

Meslier, whose only previous appearance for Marcelo Bielsa’s side had come during their 1-0 defeat at Arsenal in the FA Cup back in January, was brought into the starting line-up in place of Kiko Casilla, who was starting the first game of his eight-match ban - and the keeper managed to help Leeds pick up their fourth successive win and fourth successive clean sheet.

There had been calls from some Leeds supporters for Meslier to come into the side earlier than he has done, with Casilla having made a number of high profile errors since the turn of the year, including being at fault for vital goals conceded at Nottingham Forest and Brentford – and Meslier now has the chance to show his worth over the next few matches.

QUIZ: Are these 15 Leeds United statements true or false?

Speaking on Sky Sports’ latest EFL podcast, Prutton suggested that Meslier looked to be a goalkeeper with plenty of belief in his own ability, and that he will now be tested thoroughly over the next few matches in the absence of Casilla.

He said: "There's been many a Leeds fan that I've spoken to who've been crying out for a change of goalkeeper, and it's forced Marcelo Bielsa's hand.

"The intricacies and details of it are a whole separate debate, but it's been addressed by the FA and the sanctions got to be something that sends out a message.

"On the pitch he's capable of moments of real quality, he's capable of moments of inexplicable mishaps and lapses. No more so than in the play-off semi final last season.

"So I think there's been several errors that have led to Leeds letting in goals and losing games and it's the loneliest position in a football team, and I'm sure most goalkeepers understand that when they get into it.

"Now obviously Meslier's in a 19-year-old goalkeeper who seems to be very confident, I think if we're nitpicking there were a couple of times on Saturday where distribution wise, yes we know he's got a very nice left foot, but sometimes you play your way into a game you do simple passing.

"From that point of you he'll get better. Bigger tests will come and the confidence he seems to have will get tested and we'll see how he gets through it."

The verdict

Leeds have been fully aware over the potential of Casilla receiving his lengthy ban for a while now, and so Bielsa would have been working hard to ensure that Meslier was fully ready to come into the side and take his chance, and the keeper certainly got off to an encouraging start against Hull.

Casilla had managed to regain some form over the last few weeks, having kept three successive clean sheets to help him recover from his poor individual errors, which had been costing Leeds vital points since the turn of the year – and those errors had led to questions over whether he should still be the club’s number one.

Meslier, as Prutton suggests, will face a lot more difficult challenges than he did in Leeds’ win at Hull, but a comfortable game was exactly what the keeper needed to help him settle into the side and show that he can make a difference over the next few weeks in Casilla’s absence.

The keeper has shown he has the ability to provide effective distribution out from the back – and if he carries on performing the way he has been, then Casilla could well struggle to reclaim his place.