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Leeds United pair’s absence explained at Manchester United

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Liam Cooper and Marc Roca miss tonight’s clash between Leeds United and Manchester United with knocks.

Leeds take on Man United at Old Trafford in an 8pm kick-off tonight, in what’s their first fixture since Jesse Marsch’s sacking.

A caretaker team headed by Michael Skubala have selected the XI, which sees Robin Koch and Weston McKennie replace Cooper and Roca in the Leeds line-up.

Why are Cooper and Roca missing for Leeds?

Beren Cross at Leeds Live has confirmed that the pair “are injured” and, therefore, not in Leeds’ squad tonight at Old Trafford.

Leeds All Over sources have indicated that Roca’s absence is down to a “knock” with the severity of that not detailed to us at this stage.

There’s also no indication of what is keeping Cooper out or how serious it is, with Leeds having a short turnaround heading into Sunday’s return fixture with Man United. Cross, though, confirmed the captain’s presence pitchside in “warm-ups”.

Leeds team news v Man United?

Leeds’ XI is as follows: Illan Meslier; Luke Ayling, Robin Koch, Max Wober, Pascal Struijk; Luis Sinisterra, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Jack Harrison; Patrick Bamford, Willy Gnonto.

Subs: Joel Robles; Junior Firpo, Rasmus Kristensen, Darko Gyabi, Sam Greenwood, Brenden Aaronson, Crysencio Summerville, Mateo Joseph, Georginio Rutter.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 05: Marc Roca of Leeds United battles for possession with Remo Freuler of Nottingham Forest during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Leeds United at City Ground on February 05, 2023 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Roca has started 19 of 20 Premier League fixtures so far this season, whilst Cooper has played 13 times in what’s been a stop-start campaign.

McKennie is a direct replacement for Roca in midfield, whilst Koch does the same at centre-back in Cooper’s absence. The dilemma in the back-four is who partners Koch and who plays at left-back from Wober and Struijk.

Who should replace Marsch long-term?

Arne Slot

Arne Slot

Andoni Iraola

Andoni Iraola

Marcelo Gallardo

Marcelo Gallardo

Other?

Other?

The “knocks” picked up by Cooper and Roca are hardly ideal, only adding to a difficult task against top opposition at a time when Leeds are without a manager.

Hope has to be that the pair’s absence is short-term and nothing serious, with Skubala surely set to provide an update post-match having been quite coy about the fitness of players yesterday.

With fixtures coming thick and fast for Leeds, whoever is in the dugout needs the club’s best players available.

Quiz: Can you remember Leeds United’s last 15 results v Man United ahead of midweek clash?

1 of 15

February 2022, Elland Road?

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Leeds United Season Ticket Holder at Elland Road for over 20 seasons. Currently nestled in N12, but occasionally offering views from the press box. We’ve been through it all together? You bet.