Is Liam Cooper now battling not to be fourth-choice at Leeds?

Follow us on Google Discover

Paul Heckingbottom suggested that Leeds United captain Liam Cooper is edging back to full fitness.

Despite being the captain for much of his time with Leeds, Liam Cooper is no stranger to not being a first-choice centre-back option at Elland Road.

Last season, the former Chesterfield ace was one of three senior centre-backs in Garry Monk’s squad, but only managed to make 11 Championship appearances for the Whites, with a handful of those only coming due to the suspensions that Pontus Jansson picked up during the campaign.

Jansson’s suspension at the start of this term delayed any questions regarding who would be Thomas Christiansen’s first-choice pairing following the summer loan arrival of Matthew Pennington. And that decision was delayed further with Pennington sustaining an opening day injury.

In truth, all of the trio have had bright moments, but none of the particular combinations have worked well, and as Cooper edges back towards full fitness, Paul Heckingbottom is probably no closer to knowing what his best partnership is than Christiansen was – especially with young Paudie O’Connor now in the equation and performing extremely well.

If the first-choice was picked on quality, Jansson should arguably get the nod. He is significantly better than what he has often shown this season. While if form was the deciding factor, wouldn’t O’Connor currently top the pecking order?

That leaves Pennington and Cooper to battle it out for the understudy spot – if Heckingbottom feels the same way – and it would be difficult to argue against the fact that Pennington has the greater potential and should be ahead of Cooper if Leeds decide to pursue a permanent move in the summer.

After such a frustrating season last year, Cooper had the perfect platform to prove why he can establish himself as a first name on the teamsheet at Elland Road. But less than a year on, could he really end the campaign further down the pecking order as Leeds’ fourth-choice option ahead of a summer where strengthening their ranks in that area is a must?