Leeds United will be pretty happy with how things have started this season following the heartbreaking way the previous one finished.

Four wins out of six and just one defeat has proven a pretty good antidote to play-off misery, however, and the Whites look set to challenge for promotion once again.

But, the defeat to Swansea City before the international break proved that there is still work to be done at Elland Road and, potentially, still places in the first-team to settle.

It is nearly impossible to guess what is going on inside Marcelo Bielsa's brain so there would be little point in trying, however, a midweek draw for the club's reserve side with Crystal Palace will have raised the hopes of one or two fringe players.

Not least Illan Meslier, the young goalkeeper signed on loan from FC Lorient in the summer transfer window.

At 19 years of age, upon his arrival, he would have had no misconceptions that his role this season would be to provide back-up to Kiko Casilla.

However, he will have also arrived knowing plenty about his new teammate. He will have seen some of brilliant saves he has made and the ability he has with the ball at his feet.

But Meslier will have also seen the calamitous mistakes he has in his locker - most famously shown in the play-off semi-final second leg last season.

So, putting in a stand-out performance for Carlos Corberan's side on Monday will have done his chances no harm at all and he will know that better than anyone.

Will it be enough to persuade Bielsa into a change for the Barnsley clash? Almost certainly not. Casilla has been more than fine this season after all.

But Meslier will be aware that the better he is playing, the less his Spanish counterpart will be able to get away with before Bielsa does make that decision.

Saving a penalty, pulling off a string of excellent saves and keeping a clean-sheet is a very good way to do that.

Bielsa is a very fair manager, loyaly sticking with a team for months at a time, but he showed last season with Bailey Peacock-Farrell that he will make changes savagely if he feels it will benefit the team.

So, Meslier will now simply be biding his time.