Key Leeds United figure back from from injury after big damage scare with boss admission
A key Leeds United figure has made a swift and welcome return after a big scare.
Leeds United captain Liam Cooper has made a quick return to international team training after a big scare and boss fear admission.
Whites skipper Cooper suffered a heavy collision during the second half of Monday’s friendly against Gibraltar for Scotland which left the defender needing treatment and ultimately forced him off.
Cooper walked off limping heavily amid concerns that he had suffered a bad knee injury but the 32-year-old made a very swift return to training on Thursday in an open session ahead of Friday’s friendly at home to Finland.
Boss Steve Clarke had initially been very concerned at the sight of Cooper staying down following Monday’s collision.
“I s*** myself," admitted the Scotland boss post-match. "You get a collision and you get some who try to pull the wool over the referee's eyes, but Liam doesn't stay down very often.
“I was trying to get a message down - obviously I watched the game from higher up - I was trying to get a message down to the bench saying 'any doubt, get him off'. That's what we did.
“I spoke to him straight after the game, it looks like a knee-on-knee collision, sore for a couple of days. Fingers crossed it should be fine."