Aapo Halme ready for regular Leeds role after Liam Cooper injury

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United’s promotion hopes took a huge blow on Saturday as Liam Cooper suffered what Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed is a “serious” knee injury, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

That will open the door to Aapo Halme to have his first shot at regular first team football at Elland Road, having made only his second appearance against Sheffield United as Cooper’s replacement.

The six foot, five inch, central defender shows a real presence at the back and has looked comfortable against both the Blades and Bristol City when he made his first team debut.

Having joined in January and suffered an injury early on in his time in Yorkshire, Halme will be relishing the chance to establish himself alongside the likes of Pontus Jansson.

The Finnish defender has kept clean sheets in both of his performances to date and has done little to suggest that Marcelo Bielsa would be better served experimenting with the likes of Kalvin Phillips in the heart of defence.

At just 20-years-old, Halme lacks the experience and leadership of Cooper, but he does have the potential and the consistency to show the coach what he can do in the weeks ahead.