Liam Cooper sees ‘massive role’ for Adam Forshaw at Leeds United
Leeds United were dealt with a huge injury blow this week with central midfielder Adam Forshaw ruled out for the season with a knee problem.
The 30-year-old has suffered a fractured knee cap and the length of time it would take him to return to fitness far surpasses the final day of the Premier League season [BBC].
Six weeks is expected to be the recovery time for Forshaw but that will end beyond Leeds’ final game against Brentford.
Despite not being able to play again this season, Whites skipper Liam Cooper insists that he has a major role to play in the club’s relegation fight as he responded to his teammate on Instagram.
“Chin up pal! Still a massive role to play in and around the dressing room,” the captain wrote below Forshaw’s post confirming the news.
He himself wrote: “I’m gutted with the news that my season is over after an unfortunate injury in training. But since my return I’ve loved every minute this season and can’t wait for the next already.”
Cope with it
While Forshaw still had a part to play in Jesse Marsch’s side this season, there are many more players who could have suffered this fate and it would have been harder to get over.
His presence was much appreciated while Kalvin Phillips spent the majority of the season on the sidelines but now the England international is back to full fitness, Forshaw might have been a backup at best.
Having said that, he is still a very important person around the group having been at the club for much longer than most within the dressing room.
His experience and stature within the club is something that Marsch can now tap into away from the pitch and that will give him a much closer connection between himself and the players.
How much longer he has at the top level could well be limited with age no longer on his side and the extreme intensity of Marsch’s pressing game likely to catch up with him but he’s been a pleasure to watch at LS11.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay shared an update regarding a young starlet of the Whites as he received heavy treatment last night.