Leeds United defender Liam Cooper criticises Steve Bruce

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Leeds United defender Liam Cooper worked with Steve Bruce at Hull City.

Leeds United defender Liam Cooper has suggested to The Hull Daily Mail that he had to leave Hull City because of Steve Bruce.

Bruce, who is now in charge of Aston Villa, was the manager of Hull from 2012 until 2016.

Cooper, who can operate as a central defender or as a left-back, started his professional club football career at the Tigers and was on their books until 2013.

During his time at Hull, the 26-year-old played on loan for Carlisle United, Huddersfield Town and Chesterfield before signing a permanent contract with the Spireites.

The former Scotland Under-19 international defender joined Leeds in 2014 for a transfer fee reported by The Hull Daily Mail to be worth £750,000 and has established himself as an important player for the West Yorkshire outfit.

Cooper has spoken of his departure from Hull and has criticised Bruce for not being able to stay at the Tigers longer.

“I saw it right from the start of pre-season,” Cooper told The Hull Daily Mail. “Steve was the manager and he brought Alex in. We were the same position and it’s just one of those things. I could see it coming.

“He’d tried sending me out on loan to Portsmouth early in the season. We were playing Doncaster away in the League Cup and Stephen Clemence came to the back of the bus to tell me I was off the next day and reporting to Portsmouth.

“I made it clear I didn’t want that because I wanted to speak with my family and my agent. Then I went to speak with Steve on the Thursday and he couldn’t believe that I wanted to turn down the loan move to Portsmouth.

“It wasn’t right for me at the time and I didn’t want to just head out somewhere for a month or two. I wanted to stay and fight for my place. That didn’t work out. I couldn’t get back in the team and a few months later I went off to Chesterfield.”

When asked if Bruce had spoke to him since, Cooper said: “No. I spoke with Clem when we played Aston Villa this season but I wouldn’t go out of my way to speak with (Bruce). It’s one of those things in football. It happens.”

Leeds will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Hull City at Elland Road in the Championship and should pick up all three points from the encounter.