Key Leeds United figure handed twofold shot in the arm ahead of QPR clash with manager recognition
Leeds United defender Liam Cooper has not only been praised by Daniel Farke ahead of tonight’s game against QPR, but has also been brought back into the Scotland squad for the upcoming international break.
Just as quickly as Leeds came out of an international break last month, another is looming in October for a host of the senior players at Elland Road.
First, they have to navigate two home games against sides that finished last season in the bottom half – QPR and Bristol City.
Will Liam Cooper start?
Liam Cooper returned from injury to start the last two games after coming on as a reaction to Joe Rodon’s red card away at Hull City, and performed well up until the Saints clash.
A bad first half for the side in general saw Cooper’s performance highlighted as a poor one, with the opening goal coming as Adam Armstrong found space in behind the club captain to put the home side into a lead they never looked back from.
Criticism came for Cooper, but Daniel Farke leapt to his defence when asked if he could be dropped for tonight’s clash (via the YEP):
“He is an important part of our group, there’s no doubt to be captain of this club, he didn’t win the lottery. It’s more like it’s well deserved and a player and also human being the person who loves this club as more or less, he’s got white blood in his veins and I’m full of praise so far.
“So obviously, yes, first of all, he could have been better last game but there were three or four little mistakes that led to this [first] goal and when I watch
and judge his performances so far, I think he had a brilliant pre-season.
“So when he was on the pitch during pre-season, we have not conceded one goal, so he was pretty impressive. And then we were there the first game [vs Cardiff] and he sacrificed himself, he sacrificed his body in order to score a pretty important goal, then worked unbelievably hard in the rehab process.”
Back in Scotland squad
Another show of backing for the Leeds skipper has come from Scotland boss Steve Clarke, who has named Cooper in his squad for the upcoming internationals:
Two stern away tests await Cooper and Scotland with Spain up first in a vital Euro 2024 qualifying match in Seville, before they take on France in a friendly.
Amazingly, Scotland sit six points clear of Spain heading into this match, so could put some huge daylight between them and their rivals with a win away from home, confirming qualification for next summer’s tournament.
Cooper is a hugely important player for our squad right now, and Farke’s praise of him is for good reason, but this doesn’t mean he has to start.
He struggled against Southampton (like most), and when you have someone like Rodon sitting on the bench, it’s a simple call to make.
Having this sort of quality in your squad is something you have to call upon every week in order to guarantee results.
