Whites captain Liam Cooper 'chomping at the bit' for Leeds United return

Cooper picked up the injury ahead of United’s Championship encounter at Huddersfield Town earlier this month in which Gaetano Berardi subsequently partnered Brighton loanee Ben White at centre-back.

With Cooper looking on, Leeds recorded a 2-0 victory with the Whites then making it six wins in a row with the same XI three days later with another 2-0 success at home to Hull City.

With Cooper still missing, United then looked destined to make it seven Championship wins in succession when leading 3-0 in Saturday’s clash at home to Cardiff City but the Whites shipped in three goals in the final half hour in a 3-3 draw.

United had previously gone 445 minutes without conceding a goal but the late collapse against the Bluebirds saw the Whites go from ten goals conceded for the season to 13.

But second-placed Leeds now have their captain back for Saturday’s clash at Fulham which the Whites approach with a ten-point buffer in the automatic promotion places, 12 points clear of sixth-placed Fulham who have lost their last three.

“I’ve trained the last couple of days,” said Cooper, speaking attending the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas appeal on Wednesday morning.

“We have got the murder ball today this afternoon so we will dive straight into that and see how the legs are.

“I’m not there yet but I’m hoping I’m all right to do that and it will leave us in good stead.

“There will be a few tired bodies tomorrow, we will regroup and look to go and get a win in London on Saturday.

"I am fit for selection as we speak, there’s still three days to go so we never know but I am chomping at the bit to be fit and looking forward to the weekend.”