Pontus Jansson has been drooling over the impact that defensive team-mate Liam Cooper has made at Leeds United this season.
Cooper is arguably one of Leeds’ most in-form players at the moment and on Saturday, the 27-year-old centre-back played a crucial role in the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough with an assist to tee-up Kalvin Phillips’ last-gasp equaliser.
Jansson has been full of praise for his fellow defender, claiming that he has improved himself over the course of the season.
“Amazing. He has grown a lot as captain as the team and a player,” Jansson said when asked about Cooper, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
OPINION
Cooper has been great for Leeds since returning from injury. He missed six games in December and January due to a knee injury and in those games, the Whites conceded 11 league goals. Since returning to action, the former Hull man has seen Leeds concede seven league goals in five outings. While results have not been as good for the Yorkshire giants lately, Cooper is certainly standing out at the back and his partnership with Jansson is one of the most closely-knit in the Championship. Leeds could definitely concede less goals but the way that they play does open them up at the back sometimes. It does not help that other players in and around the pair have been in poor form. Luke Ayling and Adam Forshaw have been struggling lately while Ezgjan Alioski has been filling in at left-back lately when he is more geared towards being an attack-minded player.