Allardyce makes huge call in first Leeds game in club's quest to stop City star Haaland

The French shot-stopper has been plagued by inconsistent performances of late, with his mistakes seeing the Whites drop to 17th spot.

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And in what is a major call, Meslier has been benched by Allardyce, with Joel Robles replacing him in the starting XI.

It is the ex-Everton and Wigan star's first top-flight appearance for Leeds since he joined last summer.

Meslier has been a regular starter since joining Leeds on an initial loan deal in 2019, with the 23-year-old featuring in every Premier League game last campaigns.

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In his last three seasons, the ex-Lorient man has missed just three league matches for the Yorkshire outfit.

Allardyce alluded in his pre-match press conference that the Manchester United target wasn't guaranteed of a starting spot after shipping in 18 goals in his last five games.

Commenting on the goalkeeping issue being his most challenging issue, he said: "I don't ever see a problem in training because there's no real pressure there like there is in a game.

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"There's the goalkeeper coach working with [Meslier], there's nothing you can see to suggest or say anything other than you look at him and like all the keepers do together, he goes through the routine.

"There are a bit daft, a bit mad aren't they, because they love doing what they do.

"If you did that for an outfield player they'd get really bored but goalkeepers love it and they're a right good pack together.

"They're like a little family of their own and that will help him hopefully, but that for me lies to be probably the biggest decision I have to make today."

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More will follow.

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