Leeds United have suffered yet another injury blow in the build-up to play Manchester City with Liam Cooper pulling up injured. Cooper was due to start at centre-back alongside Pascal Struijk but was seen holding his left knee during the warm-up, before heading down the tunnel.
And now the club have confirmed that Cooper will not feature today, with Mateusz Klich coming in at the last second. This could mean that Robin Koch will drop into the back line, with Klich to partner Kalvin Phillips in midfield, with Luke Ayling moving into the centre-back position another option.
The blow is far from ideal for Marsch who has already made three changes to the team that played at Crystal Palace. Klich was originally benched alongside Daniel James and Diego Llorente, with Struijk, Koch and Junior Firpo coming in. But now Marsch’s side will have to adapt again just minutes before facing one of the best teams in Europe in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Read more: Follow Leeds United vs Man City as it happens
Cooper’s return to fitness has been pivotal in the Whites going five unbeaten, conceding only four goals and keeping back-to-back clean sheets in the process. Former Leeds man Robbie Keane has outlined how big a loss it could be.
"Thats a massive blow because he’s been instrumental in the last few weeks of how solid Leeds have been defensively," Keane said on Sky Sports. "He’s your captain and leader, so if he’s out of this game now, it could cause a lot of problems for Leeds."
But one of the team’s key strengths is their adaptability, and a Koch move into centre-back should suit him individually. The pressure is on Leeds after Burnley’s 2-1 win at Watford, with the Clarets now ahead on goal difference.
A win would take the Whites eight points clear of Everton, who play Chelsea tomorrow.
