Liam Cooper has said he will be doing everything he can to help Leeds United beat Southampton on Sunday, even if he fails to play a single minute for Daniel Farke’s side.
Side over self is the motto at Elland Road and captain Cooper is the personification of that, as he edges towards the end of a 10-year stint and the best part of 300 appearances for the Yorkshire club.
Cooper is in the final few weeks of his Leeds contract and the chances are that the Scotland star will be leaving Leeds this summer, on a free transfer. He might be a free agent at Euro 2024 with his country.
The former Chesterfield man has been on the fringes at Leeds for much of the season, despite starting the opening game of the season and suffering an injury in scoring against Cardiff City to start a comeback.
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk, and then Ethan Ampadu sit ahead of Cooper in the pecking order and while he got the last few minutes against Norwich on Thursday night, he is unlikely to play at Wembley.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds this week ahead of Sunday’s play-off final, captain Cooper told fans that he will be doing everything he can to help Leeds get over the line regardless of his playing time.
Cooper will be doing everything to help Leeds gain promotion
These days in football, players look after themselves and place their own careers over the club they play for even though they are contracted to these sides but Cooper is not that kind of player, or person.
A fan of Leeds from his childhood, Cooper is the kind of player to put his body on the line for the cause. A true captain, and a modern-day legend of this huge club and his latest comments personify just that.
“We’re going to be roared on by all them lunatics. 90 minutes, 120 minutes, two minutes or I don’t get on, it’s about what is best for the club. I’ll be doing everything I can to get the boys rallied and up for it.”
What changes could Daniel Farke make to Leeds side?
Illan Meslier, central defence and central midfield picks itself. There is no doubt, unless a surprise injury emerges, that Rodon will partner Ampadu and both Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara will start in midfield.
At right-back, Sam Byram is injured. But Connor Roberts is fit again and could be ready for a start on Sunday, however it is likely to be Archie Gray that gets the nod to face Southampton this weekend.
Willy Gnonto was superb against Norwich and he is likely to start over Dan James even with the latter fit again. The biggest talking point will be up front, if Patrick Bamford is fit – or, if Joel Piroe gets the nod.