Graham Smyth: Jesse Marsch is optimistic about Liam Cooper availability for Leeds United v Arsenal
Graham Smyth has shared that Jesse Marsch is optimistic about Liam Cooper’s availability for Leeds United against Arsenal.
The Whites skipper limped out of the warm-up ahead of the 4-0 defeat against Manchester City at Elland Road.
It was described as a “weird sensation” in his knee, although Cooper is known as the master of getting himself right for matchdays.
Writing in his latest Yorkshire Evening Post piece, Smyth shared how the head coach is feeling ahead of the trip.
“The American was optimistic that Cooper’s ‘weird sensation’ in his knee was not a significant problem, therefore it’s possible the captain plays,” he wrote.
“Cooper has been described at Leeds as the master of getting himself right for matchdays even after a disrupted week of training and if he’s in any way close to contention, he’ll push to be involved in such a big game.”
Needed.
Having seen the glaring options at the back against Manchester City, it is clear that Cooper is desperately needed.
Leeds concede far too often and easily from set-pieces without their skipper in the side, and it happened twice last week.
Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk were not dreadful in open play, but they appeared to be bullied whenever a dead ball was played into the box.
Cooper brings organisation, and leadership and is not afraid to let someone know when it isn’t going right – something that no one appears to have in this squad for these tough moments.
Arsenal aren’t known for their set-piece dominance, but they did take advantage of that twice at West Ham last week, and it will need to be watched closely.
Marsch will know that having Cooper will make his job easier in what is quickly turning into a must-win game – they all are now.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are leading the race to complete a major signing and have already opened talks to seal a £25m deal