Daniel Feliciano

Sat 25 February 2023 19:40, UK

BBC Sport journalist Adam Pope expects Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper to be available for Leeds when they face Chelsea in the Premier League next week.

The Whites picked up their first league win since October on Saturday (25 February) as Junior Firpo netted a late winner to help Javi Gracia’s team climb out of the relegation zone.

But the boss was without two key defenders for the game, and Pope shared after the game why they were absent and when he expected them to be able to return to action.

“Struijk (concussion) and Cooper weren’t ready for today (but hopefully back for Chelsea as I understand),” he wrote on his personal Twitter account (25 February).

Boost

Keeping a clean sheet in his first game as boss would have been hugely encouraging for Gracia at Elland Road, but doing it without two key defenders would have been even better.

Cooper is the club captain and would be expected to start most games when fit in central defence, while Struijk’s form this season from left-back has earned him a new contract and even saw him in contention to go to the World Cup with Holland.

Both men could now find it a task to get back into the side however if everyone continues to perform at this level, as Leeds were barely troubled against Southampton and never looked like conceding.

Having options available across the pitch is hugely important to getting results, as the squad depth could be crucial later in the season.

We have that advantage over several of our rivals, and if Gracia can maintain this level of performance then there is no doubt that we will be safe.

In other Leeds news, BT Sport panel disagree over survival chances live on air after Javi Gracia’s appointment at Elland Road.

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