Leeds hit by ‘really bad news’ after update on ‘innocuous’ injury blow – Whelan
Noel Whelan has insisted Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper’s injury updates are “really bad news” for Leeds United.
The former Whites striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 26-year-old England midfielder is “irreplaceable” in Marcelo Bielsa’s midfield.
Speaking at his pre-Burnley press conference yesterday (31 December), as quoted by Leeds Live, Bielsa said he “expects” Phillips and Cooper to be sidelined until March.
The pair suffered hamstring injuries as Leeds United drew 2-2 at home against Brentford last month.
Whelan compared Cooper’s “presence” in the Whites dressing room to that of Jordan Henderson at Liverpool.
“The injuries looked so innocuous,” he told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge.
“Usually with a hamstring if you’re not jumping in the air and hitting the clouds, it could just be a tiny tear which could take as little as four weeks.
“But this is really bad news for Leeds United because they are two big players. Phillips, who is one of the best defensive midfield players in the Premier League and is vitally important to how we play. He’s irreplaceable in there.
“And then Cooper is the club captain, and that presence will be missed sorely in the dressing room.
“You can’t take away the importance of what he gives you in there. It’s like Jordan Henderson at Liverpool – you miss those types of voices.”
Leeds United host 18th-place Burnley tomorrow with a chance of pulling eight points clear of the drop.
The Whites have won just one of their last five in the league.
In other news, Nottingham Forest in advanced talks to sign Leeds United starlet.