With Guillaume Restes out, can Mathys Niflore shake up Toulouse’s goalkeeping pecking order? | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Guillaume Restes’s absence has handed highly rated 19-year-old Mathys Niflore a chance to impress, and possibly to test Toulouse’s goalkeeping hierarchy.

He made his Ligue 1 bow against Lille on 3 September, replacing the injured Restes in the 71st minute. With only one touch to his name, Ayase Ueda scored in the 73rd for a fortunate 1-0 LOSC win. Debuting at the Stadium before his family still felt significant.

Now comes the need to confirm the promise. The 1.92 m keeper, conspicuous throughout his youth development, will make his first Ligue 1 start this weekend with the regular number one ruled out.

A professional at 17 and son of former TFC striker Wilfried Niflore, he shone on loan at Dunkerque in Ligue 2. The France Under-19 international was the youngest starting keeper across the five major European leagues, and coach Christophe Lollichon noted that regular games refined his reading and distribution.

Back at Toulouse this summer, he has taken on greater importance. His deal now runs to 2029 and he alternated with Restes in pre-season. A fresh loan was considered late on, but Toulouse rejected Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 interest, with Viktor Bezhani describing healthy competition and saying selection will be based on merit, and Jens Berthel Askou saying Niflore is ready while stressing careers depend on seizing chances.

Source: L'Équipe

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