Liam Cooper may be forced to depart Leeds United after Daniel Farke’s latest injury update
Liam Cooper has had a difficult start to the season with Leeds United and has quickly slid down the pecking order at Elland Road in recent weeks.
Having started the Whites’ season opener against Cardiff City and even popping up with a goal in the clash, many expected the Scottish international to rediscover his best form, only for him to be withdrawn with an injury sustained as he headed home at Elland Road.
Since then Cooper has only started two further Championship matches, the last of which being the Whites’ 3-1 defeat to Southampton in September and it looks as though that run on the bench could well be extended after Daniel Farke’s recent injury update.
The German revealed that Joe Rodon was expected to be fit for the Whites’ clash with Leicester City on Friday (3 November) having been replaced by Cooper during Leeds’ win over Huddersfield with an injury.
Cooper had put in a reasonable display from the bench against the Terriers, completing 98 per cent of his 48 attempted passes, but wasn’t required to put in a single tackle and failed to win his only aerial duel as Farke’s side comfortably ran out 4-1 winners [Fotmob].
Unfortunately for the Whites’ captain that will have unlikely been enough for Farke to consider dropping Rodon in favour of Cooper, should the Welshman be fit and ready to play against the Foxes at the King Power Stadium on Friday.
Rodon has been in inspired form in defence for Leeds United this season and has formed an exceptional partnership with Pascal Struijk at the back and it has left Cooper limited to a role as a substitute player, only featuring in short cameos here and there.
That is unlikely to change unless either defender has a large and sustained dip in individual form, given Farke’s reluctance to make unnecessary changes to his starting XI throughout his career and his brief time at Elland Road, and he will be glued to the bench as a result.
Cooper was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, with reports emerging that he was offered a £4 million contract by Al-Qadisah, formerly managed by Robbie Fowler [Phil Hay, 16 October].
Should the 32-year-old continue to see his involvement on the pitch limited in the lead-up to the January transfer window, he may well regret not accepting such a huge offer and could well look to the exit door once again in search of regular football.
Rodon’s injury seemed to have opened the door for Cooper to stake his claim for a place in Farke’s side once again, but that opportunity seems to have vanished just as quickly as it appeared.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have reportedly placed a sell-on clause in Max Dean’s sale as clubs circle the MK Dons striker