Scotland manager Steve Clarke believes that Leeds United’s Liam Cooper is ready for the step up to international football.
Former West Brom and Kilmarnock manager Clarke succeeded Alex McLeish earlier in the year, and credits Marcelo Bielsa for Cooper’s improvement.
The United skipper is yet to make his debut for Scotland, despite featuring for their Under-19s a decade ago.
He’s been called up by Gordon Strachan since then and has trained with them, but failed to make it onto the pitch.
Injuries to senior Tartan Army internationals, including Aberdeen captain Scott McKenna, Hearts’ John Souttar and Norwich’s Grant Hanley, have opened the door.
In a key qualifier against Russia at Hampden Park on Friday night, Cooper is expected to start in the backline alongside Kilmarnock’s Stephen O’Donnell, Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Charlie Mulgrew, who scored twice for Blackburn Rovers against Leeds in a 3-2 defeat at Elland Road last season.
“Liam is ready, if he is asked to play,” Clarke told The Scotsman.
“He has played loads of games in the English Championship at a really good level, working with a really good coach in Marcelo Bielsa. He has been good within the group this week and I’ve enjoyed working with him.”
After Russia, Scotland host Belgium in their second qualifier of the international break next Monday.
Eden Hazard has withdrawn from the squad, but Cooper could still be facing the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne in what’s set to be another tough test for Scotland.
Visit our dedicated Leeds United page for the latest news, views and analysis from Elland Road.
