Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca is the newest addition to the club’s injury list, with boss Sam Allardyce confirming that the Spaniard is currently suffering with a knee problem.
This development comes as the Whites gear up for a trip to face West Ham this Sunday in their penultimate match of the Premier League season – knowing a win is crucial to give them any hopes of survival.
A victory against the Hammers could see Leeds climb out of the relegation zone into 16th place, if rivals Everton and Nottingham Forest were both to lose this weekend.
Other injury absentees include Tyler Adams, Luis Sinisterra, and Stuart Dallas, with positive news coming in the form of club captain Cooper being able to train this week.
“There’s only Dallas, Adams, Sinisterra, Cooper is back in training and Roca has got a patella tendon issue as well. Not too bad on the injury front,” Allardyce said in his pre-match press conference today.
Necessity may see Cooper thrust right back into first-team action despite not having featured for the side in their last two matches – with left-back Junior Firpo set to miss out on the clash with David Moyes’ side through suspension after picking up a red card against Newcastle.
This may see Allardyce opt to move left-footed centre-back Max Wober across to the left-back berth, bringing in either Cooper or Pascal Struijk to fill the slot left by playing Wober at full-back.
Allardyce admitted this situation was one he and his staff had been considering ahead of the West Ham game.
“We’ve been talking about that in terms of who do we fit into that position, or do we perhaps change the system to a different way of playing? We’ve got to look at what West Ham did last night and last week at Brentford.”
Sunday’s must-win clash is followed by the Whites hosting Tottenham on the final day, with at least four points from these two fixtures being a must if Leeds are to secure their Premier League status this season.
