Liam Cooper and Rodrigo doubts for Leeds United v Burnley with yellow cards to be wiped
Liam Cooper and Rodrigo could remain on the sidelines for Leeds United when they take on Burnley at Elland Road on Sunday, according to Beren Cross.
The LeedsLive journalist reports that while neither player is likely to be involved, that does serve as a slight boost as the clash versus Burnley is the final match in which a player can get suspended for a fifth booking.
Raphinha, Diego Llorente, Tyler Roberts, Jamie Shackleton, Cooper and Rodrigo are all on four bookings and a yellow card against Burnley would mean they’re banned for the FA Cup Third Round match against West Ham on 9 January.
But LeedsLive journalist Cross reports that as Cooper and Rodrigo are unlikely to play against Burnley, they’ll effectively see their yellow cards wiped from the record and will avoid a ban.
Lucky
It’s starting to look as though Leeds’ fortunes are changing.
While we don’t want to see matches postponed due to COVID-19 because that means players and staff members are testing positive, it’s hard to ignore the fact the last week has been a blessing for the Whites.
Marcelo Bielsa’s squad was decimated by injuries prior to Christmas but the postponed matches against Liverpool and Aston Villa have given the injured and ill players more time to recover and get back up to speed.
Cooper and Rodrigo are among the players who’ve benefitted from the break as it gives them chances to recover from their respective hamstring and heel injuries. But it also means that their threat of being banned for one match will go away in the wash.
Leeds have numerous players walking a suspension tightrope but even if they’re booked this weekend, they’ll only be banned for an FA Cup match.
While we don’t want that to happen, we’d rather see the team lose to West Ham in the FA Cup due to injuries and suspensions than lose a vital Premier League match.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are in the hunt to sign this 25-year-old powerhouse.