Liam Cooper has put in some of his finest Leeds United performances this season but was nowhere to be seen in the World Cup qualifiers.
Liam Cooper’s excellent start to the Championship season had initially silenced the cynics who doubted whether he could step up and replace last season’s loan star Kyle Bartley.
The 26-year-old’s campaign has taken a bit of a downward turn in recent weeks, however. That needless red card in the first-half of the 3-1 defeat against Cardiff City once again raised questions about his decision making and the Scotland call-up he received in recognition of his hitherto impressive displays did not go to plan either.
Cooper, in the Scotland squad for the second time, still does not have a cap to his name after failing to play even a second of football in World Cup qualifying clashes with Slovakia and Slovenia over the past week.
The one-time Leeds skipper was an unused sub once again as The Tartan Army’s World Cup hopes crashed and burned with a 2-2 draw against Slovenia on Sunday evening.
Therefore, Cooper clearly has a lot to do to convince Gordon Strachan, presuming he stays in the job after Scotland’s tournament exile extended to 20 years.
Christophe Berra and Charlie Mulgrew may have plenty of international experience as a partnership but the former is 32 while the latter is currently plying his trade with Blackburn Rovers in League One.
Cooper, then, may be a little concerned that he is still not seen as a better option despite Leeds sitting near the top of the Championship table. Continuing his excellent form, and avoiding those silly suspensions, would represent another step in the right direction.
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