Thomas Christiansen comments on Leeds captain Liam Cooper’s Scotland call-up

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Leeds United’s Liam Cooper has been rewarded for his fine start to the season by being included in the Scotland squad for their upcoming games.

Thomas Christiansen has suggested, in comments posted on Leeds United’s official Facebook page that he is delighted for Liam Cooper after the Whites captain was recalled to the Scotland squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, but added that there was one slight downside.

Cooper went into this campaign as something of a divisive figure amongst Leeds fans, having struggled to put a lot of pressure on the club’s first-choice centre-back pairing of Kyle Bartley and Pontus Jansson last term.

However, he has been a tremendous asset to Christiansen’s side this season, silencing most of his critics and helping the side keep one of the most impressive defensive records in the country so far.

That form has not gone unnoticed by Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, who has handed the 26-year-old another call-up for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Slovakia and Slovenia.

And Christiansen suggested that the defender had certainly earned his opportunity to be included in the squad, but lightheartedly added that there may be one small issue from a Leeds perspective.

“Yes, especially when last year he didn’t have too much time in the squad,” he said, as reported by the club’s official Facebook account, when asked whether he is pleased to see Cooper receive the recognition.

“This season he had started in the first XI, he has done well, he is the captain and he’s a player who showed that he has character and is a good team player. If [you ask me if] I’m happy that he’s with the national team, of course. But it will give him probably some more games that, for me, is not the best, but I can only be happy for my players.”

While Leeds fans will be hoping that Cooper finally gets to make his debut for the country, they, like Christiansen, will be keen to see the former Chesterfield man come through the international break unscathed as he has been so important to the team thus far.