Leeds United v Wolves team news: Whites forced to make late change after warm-up

LEEDS United were forced into making a very late change ahead of Monday night's clash against Premier League visitors Wolves with skipper Liam Cooper encountering problems in the warm-up.

Whites skipper Cooper picked up a groin injury on international duty with Scotland but the defender initially kept his place in the Whites starting line up next to German international summer recruit Robin Koch at centre-back.

It was always hoped that Cooper could return within two weeks of suffering his setback with Scotland but Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa said on Friday that his captain was at risk of missing the game.

Cooper was then named in United's starting XI but the captain was clearly uncomfortable in the warm-up and was forced to pull out of the match-day squad to be replaced by Pascal Struijk with Jamie Shackleton coming in on the bench.

STARTING: Leeds United captain Liam Cooper. Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Imagesplaceholder image
STARTING: Leeds United captain Liam Cooper. Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Fellow centre-back and summer signing Diego Llorente had already been ruled out having also suffered a groin injury on international duty with Spain.

Cooper's late omission means Bielsa has made three changes to his side with winger Jack Harrison also back in the side on the left wing and taking the place of Gjanni Alioski having been ineligible to face parent club Manchester City in United's last game before the international break.

Record signing and Spanish international Rodrigo also comes in for Tyler Roberts in the no 10 role while a fit again Pablo Hernandez is back on the bench having recovered from a groin setback.

United's final signing of the international transfer window Raphinha also makes the bench with the winger having impressed Bielsa with the speed at which he has settled in.

Midfielder Adam Forshaw remains a long term absentee with a hip problem while goalkeeper Kiko Casilla is back on the bench having been out with an ankle problem.

Jamie Shackleton and Leif Davis are the two players to drop off the bench.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has made one change to his side with Joao Moutinho recalled to replace Ruben Neves in midfield.

Spanish international Adama Traore starts from the bench along with record signing Fabio Silva.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Costa, Rodrigo, Harrison, Bamford. Subs: Casilla, Alioski, Shackleton, Roberts, Hernandez, Poveda, Raphinha.

Wolves: Patrício; Kilman, Coady, Boly; Saïss, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Semedo; Neto, Jiménez, Podence. Subs: Ruddy, Hoever, Marcal, Neves, Silva, Traore, Otasowie.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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