Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that captain Liam Cooper is back in contention for Leeds United’s Premier League clash with Leicester City on Monday, while speaking to Leeds Live.
The Whites have not exactly missed their influential skipper.
With Cooper stuck on the sidelines due to a groin injury he picked up on international duty, Leeds kept a clean sheet in last week’s 3-0 thrashing of an Aston Villa side who put seven past champions Liverpool recently.
It took a deflected Raul Jimenez effort for Wolves to break down a well-drilled Whites team too, with Robin Koch and Luke Ayling stepping up in Cooper’s absence.
Having said that, the 29-year-old’s return will be well received, especially given that Leeds will try to keep the evergreen Jamie Vardy quiet at Elland Road.
“Cooper is fine now,” Bielsa said.
“He’s at a very good level, but I haven’t picked the XI yet. Being able to count on him is very good.”
Bielsa did confirm that £18 million summer signing Diego Llorente is not yet fit enough to make his debut, having suffered a groin problem during the October international break.
Talisman Kalvin Phillips will also be absent against Leicester. It remains to be seen if Jamie Shackleton, who impressed against Villa, is handed a first Premier League start in his place.
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