Could Bielsa soon make Cooper decision he’s rarely made at Leeds?

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After a torrid season with injuries, Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa looks to finally be on his way to having his five centre-backs all available at the same time. 

Gaetano Berardi was sidelined from the end of last season until recently. Diego Llorente had hardly fared any better before his most recent return.

Robin Koch is making his way back from an injury sustained in December. Liam Cooper meanwhile, was ill for Saturday’s clash with Chelsea (via Leeds Live).

The problems have meant that only Cooper has made more starts at centre-back than right-back Luke Ayling. Pascal Struijk meanwhile, has played 18 times despite not starting a single league game at centre-back before Leeds were promoted.

But Bielsa is seemingly not far away now from having Cooper, Llorente, Koch, Struijk and Berardi all available at the same time.

It could be a fascinating moment in Leeds’s season. The supporters are still yet to really learn what Bielsa’s first-choice pairing actually is.

But given the form Llorente and Struijk are currently showing, perhaps there is a chance that Bielsa could end up making a decision that he has only made a handful of times before.

Remarkably, Leeds have started a league game with Cooper on the bench on just three occasions since Bielsa took charge.

On two of those occasions, he was returning from injury and came on. The other came when Bielsa made a raft of changes for the trip to Derby after promotion had already been secured.

But there seems to be a genuine chance that Cooper could find himself down the pecking order.

The 29-year-old has been outstanding this season. Some of his performances have been colossal. However, Llorente and Struijk have surely earned the chance to keep their places.

Koch meanwhile, was a stalwart for the side during the opening weeks of the season. So there is set to be a lot of competition in the coming months.

Cooper’s leadership may give him an advantage upon his return. But as things stand, perhaps he may have to bide his time on the bench before he forces his way back into the starting lineup.