COOPER HOPES TO TAKE CHANCE

COOPER HOPES TO TAKE CHANCE

Defender Liam Cooper hopes to make the most of his opportunity in the side...

United defender Liam Cooper is hopeful of nailing down a place in the side after impressing during the midweek 2-2 draw with Charlton.

Cooper replaced the suspended Jason Pearce on Tuesday night and could stay in the team for Saturday’s visit of Blackpool as Giuseppe Bellusci serves a one-match ban.

The 23-year-old, who arrived from Chesterfield this summer, has had to be patient for a chance in the side so far this season as Pearce and Bellusci have formed the regular centre-half pairing.

But their suspensions have created openings in the defence which Cooper plans to take advantage of, having slotted in seamlessly against Charlton.

"I thought I grew into the game, I enjoyed it," he said. "It was good to be back out there.

"There’s no better feeling than playing week-in-week out and hopefully I did enough to keep my place on Saturday.

"I think the gaffer is as honest as they come and if you’re playing well, you keep the shirt.

"That’s how he goes about his business and it’s good to know as a player that if you do play well, you’re not going to lose your place and you are going to stay in there."

United are looking to end a run of eight games without a win as bottom-placed Blackpool travel to Elland Road, and Cooper has backed new head coach Neil Redfearn to help oversee a change in fortunes.

"The head coach wants us to go and play, he wants us to be brave on the ball and I think we’ve definitely shown that in the last few games," said the former Hull City defender.

"I think Saturday is a massive game for us. It’s not a must-win but it’s as close as it can be.

"We’ve got to apply ourselves properly and I think if we do and play to the best of our abilities, we’ll get a good performance and a good win.

"I don’t think any game in the Championship is a game you can take for granted.

"We’ve just got to apply ourselves properly, do what we do best and I think that will be enough to win the game."

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