Illan Meslier has waited patiently for his first France call-up and he could be forgiven for thinking that perhaps the time had come when Hugo Lloris pulled out of the squad on Monday.
France will soon be preparing for a future without their veteran captain, who at the ripe old age of 35, has amassed an astonishing 139 caps for his country. Lloris's thigh injury has presented one of the next generation with an opportunity to become the heir to his throne, but it appears that that chance has come too soon for Meslier.
Didier Deschamps has opted to call upon FC Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont, but perhaps the biggest surprise was that West Ham's second-choice keeper Alphonse Areola was selected above both of them in the first place.
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Areola has played just twice in the Premier League since joining the Hammers from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021. He received an extended run of games last season due to West Ham's journey to the UEFA Europa League semi-final but has failed to oust Lukasz Fabianski as David Moyes's number one.
While AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan looks the likeliest candidate to succeed Lloris between the sticks in the long-term future, the battle for the 'best of the rest' seems well and truly on.
There seems little use in having a 29-year-old, who can't even pin down a regular place with West Ham in the squad, when a future international star such as Meslier continues to ply his trade with the U21s.
Perhaps Deschamps feels Meslier is better suited playing regularly at youth level instead of sitting on the bench for the first team, but a taste of senior international football would surely only benefit him?
Meslier's style is reminiscent of Lloris. His distribution is very good and his reflexes have seen him produce an array of stunning saves to keep opponents at bay for Leeds. He's also experienced for one so young, having missed just three league games since arriving at Elland Road from FC Lorient in the summer of 2020.
Although Meslier's omission may seem perplexing, it does feel as though it will only be a matter of time until he is blooded into the first team. But for now, the 22-year-old will look to add to his 10 caps for the U21s, as he makes a last-gasp attempt to enter Deschamps' plans ahead of this winter's World Cup.
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