Leeds: £35k-a-week star 'expected' to return vs Chelsea at Elland Road

Leeds defender Liam Cooper is expected to start tonight’s crunch clash against Chelsea, according to Mirror journalist David Anderson.

The Whites captain has missed the games with Manchester City and Arsenal through injury but is in contention to return for the visit of Thomas Tuchel’s side.

It’s been a sorry campaign for the Scottish defender, who only recently returned from a long-term spell on the sidelines with a hamstring problem and is now nursing a knee injury ahead of a crucial period in Leeds’ season.

But journalist Phil Hay provided a promising update ahead of this evening’s clash and revealed that Cooper has trained prior to the game at Elland Road.

Leeds are already without key defenders Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling, who’ll miss the rest of the season through injury and suspension, which means they cannot afford to lose another key player.

However, Anderson is confident that Cooper will recover from his knee issue to start the match.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I think Cooper will play against Chelsea. The hope and expectations are that he will play tonight.

“It’s such a difficult one, because you’re so desperate to have Liam Cooper, Leeds captain, the man who typifies that spirit, the man who came from League Two and typifies that spirit, determination and grit you’re going to need to get out of this hole.”

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Having Cooper, who earns £35,000 per-week, in the team would be huge for Leeds and potentially the difference between getting a positive result.

As mentioned above, they’re already without two of their starting four defenders, not to mention that Cooper is also the captain of the club.

It therefore comes as little surprise that when