Leeds: Jesse Marsch now set for 'massive boost' at Elland Road | OneFootball

Leeds having Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford available is a “massive boost” for Jesse Marsch, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The £18.9m-rated duo have both been out injured in recent weeks but featured for the club’s Under-21s last Friday.

What’s the latest news involving Cooper and Bamford?

It’s been an incredibly frustrating time for Cooper and Bamford, who’ve missed large chunks of action since the beginning of last season.

In fact, the Leeds captain featured in just 21 top-flight games in 2021-2022, while Bamford was restricted to only nine appearances.

Their injury woes have continued this season as Cooper is yet to take to the field in competitive action and the striker hasn’t started since the draw at Southampton in the middle of August.

But in a boost for Marsch ahead of the international break, the pair started for the Under-21s last week, with Cooper playing the full 90 minutes, while Bamford bagged a hat-trick in the 76 minutes he spent on the pitch.

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Leeds have been struggling in recent weeks, failing to win or keep a clean sheet in any of their last three top-flight games and have scored just three goals during that period.

What did O’Rourke say about Cooper and Bamford?

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Getting those players some minutes under the belts will come as a massive boost for Marsch who has had a few injury problems that were starting to hit the squad in the last couple of weeks as well.”

Could Cooper or Bamford start against Aston Villa?

By the time Leeds return to action on Sunday week, it would have been nearly a month since they last played.

Regardless, Marsch might still be looking to make changes from the thrashing they suffered at Brentford earlier this month when the Yorkshire giants went down 5-2.

As a result, there’s surely every chance that Cooper will immediately come back into the fold in a bid to tighten them up defensively, especially with extra time on the training pitch due to the recent postponements.

Meanwhile, Bamford played the second half in west London and providing he doesn’t suffer any setbacks during the break, could also be seriously considered for a starting place, with Joe Gelhardt the likeliest to make way.