Liam Cooper doubt for Leeds is significant with Ollie Watkins test looming

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Leeds United potentially have a triple injury blow ahead of their home clash against Brentford on Wednesday night.

Whites manager Marcelo Bielsa claimed in his press conference (Yorkshire Evening Post) that it’s unclear on if Liam Cooper, Ezgjan Alioski and Barry Douglas will be available for the game.

It will leave the Yorkshire giants with a problem at left-back if Alioski and Douglas are both ruled out, but the more alarming problem may be in the heart of defence.

Leeds captain Cooper would be a significant miss if he’s ruled out of the Brentford clash at Elland Road.

The 27-year-old is a real leader at the back and a consistent performer, which is why his absence would be massively felt if he can’t play against Ollie Watkins.

Brentford have a great weapon in attacker Watkins up their sleeve, who could be a real handful for Leeds in mid-week and has the potential to score plenty in the Championship.

Leeds could use Ben White and Gaetano Berardi as a potential centre-back combination, but the loss of Cooper against a quality striker would be felt.

Watkins has started the new campaign with two goals in three league games and they have both come with close-range finishes inside the penalty area.

The 23-year-old has been converted from a winger to a more central striker role and a key strength in his game is his movement off the back of defenders.

He’s also a speed machine that could hurt Bielsa’s team on the counter attack, so they are going to have to be switched on defensively.