Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch says the club are being 'cautious' over Liam Cooper after the Whites' skipper was absent from the matchday squad to face Arsenal. Cooper was pulled from the line-up last weekend against Machester City at the last moment when he was injured in the warm-up.
Despite the Scotland international returning to training last week and Marsch being optimistic he would play when he spoke during Friday's pre-match press conference, the Leeds head coach said Cooper's knee problem has not quite gone away.
"Liam Cooper is still feeling his knee a little bit and we just didn't want to take the risk of playing him now and potentially losing him for the next fixtures so we were a little bit more cautious with him," he told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.]
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Leeds begin the day just outside the relegation zone, with another tough test coming up on Wednesday evening when they host Chelsea at Elland Road, with Brighton (h) and Brentford (a) the club's remaining fixtures as they look to ensure they finish above either Burnley or Everton as the three sides battle to avoid the final relegation place.
Marsch made three changes to his side to face Arsenal, with Joe Gelhardt's inclusion in the starting line-up the most eye-catching.
"We felt like we need more of a natural striker so Joffy I think brings that for us so we'll play him up front," Marsch explained. "Dan James has been fantastic and we just made one decision not to play him and Diego's healthy again."
