Leeds United captain Liam Cooper has made a swift return to international team training following a significant scare and concern from his boss. Cooper suffered a heavy collision in the second half of Scotland’s friendly against Gibraltar on Monday, which required treatment and ultimately forced him off the field. Limping heavily, there were immediate fears of a severe knee injury. However, the 32-year-old made a rapid recovery, participating in an open training session on Thursday ahead of Friday’s friendly against Finland.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke was initially very concerned when Cooper stayed down after the collision. “I s*** myself,” admitted Clarke post-match. “You get some who try to deceive the referee, but Liam doesn’t stay down often. I was trying to get a message down – I watch the game from higher up – to the bench saying, ‘any doubt, get him off’. That’s what we did.”
Clarke spoke with Cooper immediately after the game. “It looks like a knee-on-knee collision, sore for a couple of days. Fingers crossed it should be fine.” Cooper’s quick return to training is a welcome relief for both Leeds United and the Scottish national team.
