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Dom Matteo has claimed that Leeds United captain Liam Cooper has continued to improve with age and has pinpointed his success to cutting out individual mistakes in his game.

It seems a long time ago now, but the defender was once a huge target for frustrated supporters when the Whites were stuck in the Championship and a spate of errors meant he was regularly criticised.

The 29-year-old has managed to turn that around though massively in recent times and lifted the Championship title last season after the Yorkshire club sealed promotion in emphatic fashion.

He is a commanding left-footed centre-back that has grown into a real leader in the dressing room since Marcelo Bielsa took charge as manager and he’s now getting his chance in the top-flight.

The Scotsman has picked up a groin injury on international that has seen him return to Thorp Arch early, but he’s expected to be fit again within two weeks (official website).

“Liam Cooper is getting his chance now with Scotland and a big part of that is thanks to how much he’s improved under Marcelo Bielsa. He’s cut out a lot of the mistakes, mistakes I can remember making myself and he’s become a top player,” Matteo told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“He’s got better with age. That’s something players today seem to be able to do that I couldn’t – it was the other way round for me, but they’re getting fitter and stronger and better as they age.”

TBR’s View:

Cooper arrived at Elland Road back in 2014 from Chesterfield and six years later he’s captaining Leeds in the Premier League.

His rise to the top has been tougher the most and at one stage many questioned his ability as a Championship footballer, but he’s now one of the most consistent performers at the club.

Despite the arrival of international centre-backs Robin Koch and Diego Llorente this summer, it looks like at present both are competing against each other to play alongside Cooper in the starting XI.