Leeds United: Season just gets better for recalled Cooper with selection for Scotland squad
LIAM Cooper's superb week could become even better this (Wednesday) evening with the Leeds United defender braced for duty with the Scotland national side.
Cooper was surprisingly handed his first Championship start since the second Saturday in February in Saturday night’s Elland Road clash with second-placed Brighton, starting at Pontus Jansson’s expense.
Cooper helped Leeds to a clean sheet and 2-0 victory and was then drafted into the Scotland squad on Monday ahead of the Tartan Army’s forthcoming assignments in the current international break.
Cooper was born in Hull but qualifies to represent Scotland through his grandfather. And now the defender could be set to feature in this evening’s friendly at home to Canada, which comes four days before Sunday evening’s Group F World Cup Qualifier against Slovenia.
Cooper was omitted from Scotland boss Gordan Strachan’s initial current squad but was brought in as a replacement for the injured Grant Hanley.
Cooper was also named in Strachan’s squad for a friendly against Denmark last March but did not play. The Whites defender has, however, been capped by both Scotland’s under-19s and under-17s.
Leeds have six first-team players away on international duty, with Cooper joined by Chris Wood (New Zealand), Pontus Jansson (Sweden), Stuart Dallas (Northern Ireland), Eunan O’Kane (Republic of Ireland) and Mo Barrow (Gambia).
O’Kane is due to be next in action after Cooper, with the Republic of Ireland tackling Wales in a Group D World Cup Qualifier in Dublin on Friday evening.