Leeds United suffered a blow on Wednesday as defender Liam Cooper was handed a six-match ban by the FA for violent conduct.
The 25-year-old was found guilty of his studs landing on Reading loanee Reece Oxford during the Whites’ 1-0 defeat against the Royals at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
While he served the first game of his suspension during another loss to Brentford on Tuesday night, the Scotland international will be absent until the final day clash against Wigan Athletic.
He may not have been a regular under Garry Monk this term – the centre-back has made just eleven Championship appearances – but he has been an able deputy in recent weeks with Pontus Jansson absent because of injury.
With the Swede also only two bookings away from a two-match ban himself, other players may need to fill the central defensive void in the coming weeks.
Here are THREE Leeds players that may need to step up in the absence of Cooper…
Gaetano Berardi
Because of a hamstring problem at the beginning of the season – as well as the impressive form of summer signing Luke Ayling – the right-back struggled to get into the starting line-up.
However, he has played the full 90 minutes in every game since a 4-1 win at Preston North End on Boxing Day in a range of defensive positions.
The Italian has played on the right and left side of the back four during that sequence, but he is also able to play at the heart of the defence too – and he might just be needed there.
Luke Ayling
Like Berardi, even though Ayling’s preferred position is at full-back he is also able to play in the middle of the defence too.
Even though first-choice Pontus Jansson returned from a hamstring problem in the defeat to Brentford on Tuesday night, there is no guarantee that it is a problem that won’t return before the end of the campaign.
With Cooper suspended and little cover in that area, Monk may call upon Ayling over the course of the next five fixtures – especially as Berardi can fill in at right-back too.
Paul McKay
Leeds signed the young centre-back from Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers in January 2016, but he didn’t make his first-team debut for the club until a year later, when he started alongside Liam Cooper in the shock 1-0 defeat to Sutton United in the FA Cup.
While it was a debut to forget for the 20-year-old – who hasn’t made an appearance since – he may be called upon for a place in the matchday squad at the very least in the coming weeks because of the lack of options Garry Monk currently has available to him.