Leeds United have issued an update on Liam Cooper after the Whites captain was ruled out of their Premier League opener against Liverpool.
Marcelo Bielsa's side are taking part in their first top flight game for 16 years at Anfield tonight, but must make do without their skipper, who misses out with a calf injury.
Cooper suffered the injury during the international break when he represented Scotland and failed a late fitness test ahead of tonight's tea-time clash.
"Liam Cooper failed a fitness test and misses out today with a calf injury sustained on international duty," the club tweeted out soon after the starting XI was confirmed.
Bielsa has been forced to name an untested centre-back pairing, with Pascal Struijk being drafted in for just his third senior start, where he will partner new signing Robin Koch, who arrived in a £13million move from Freiburg last month.
Cooper himself took to social media to express his disappointment at missing out.
"Gutted would be an understatement," he tweeted. "I dreamt about this day.. Today come too soon but I’m here to support the boys through our return to the Premier League. Be loud and proud from home! MOT."
The Whites head coach will give an update on Cooper's fitness following the Anfield clash in his post-match press conference.
Leeds' record signing Rodrigo is on the bench this evening, with Bielsa opting to keep the faith with Patrick Bamford from the go.
