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Gordon Strachan admits Liam Cooper error

Referee Stuart Attwell gives a red card too Liam Cooper of Leeds United (C) during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Sutton United and...
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The Leeds United captain has been named in the Scotland squad again.

Liam Cooper of Leeds United (C) walks off after being sent off during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Sutton United and Leeds United at Borough Sports Ground on January 29,...

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has admitted to STV that he was wrong to omit Leeds United defender Liam Cooper from his last international squad.

The Leeds centre-back has been in superb form for the Whites so far this season and was handed a recall to the international fold for World Cup qualifiers with Slovenia and Slovakia next month.

However, Cooper – who is club captain for the Whites this season – was left out of the wins over Lithuania and Malta in qualifying last month, something which Strachan admits was a mistake on his part.

Liam Cooper of Leeds United FC passses the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on August 22, 2015 in Leeds, England.

“He’s playing well in a winning side,” the manager told STV.

“He’s a big influence, he’s captain now and that’s big progress for Leeds and himself.

“I probably should have had him in the last squad to be honest so I made sure I didn’t make the same mistake again.”

Maxime Biamou of Sutton United (L) and Liam Cooper of Leeds United (R) battle to win a header during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Sutton United and Leeds United at...

You can understand why Strachan left him out.

Cooper was playing regularly for Leeds before the international break but perhaps the Scottish boss could not justify a call-up on the back of a few solid performances.

However, the former Chesterfield man’s form has remained at a very high level and United went 636 minutes without conceding a Championship goal, prior to the 1-0 defeat at Millwall nine days ago.