Cooper eyeing up top six challenge for Leeds

The Elland Road club, already on their third permanent head coach of 2014-15, sit 15th in the Championship table and much closer to the relegation zone than the play-off places.

Despite that, Cooper, the scorer of the first goal in the 3-1 weekend victory over Blackpool that sent United into the international break on a high, believes there is every chance that Neil Redfearn’s side can still mount a challenge.

He said: “I think if you ask anybody in the team – the staff, the players – we know we are a top-six side and we have the quality in the side to be that. We have just got to put the results together and if you go three, four or five games on the bounce with wins, you are straight back up there.

“That is what we are aiming for and, hopefully, we can do that.

“If anyone had given us 3-1 at the start of the game (against Blackpool), we would have taken it. I think the performance was the biggest thing, especially the first-half performance when I don’t think Blackpool got out of their half.

“It is great to see that in front of you and see that going on with the midfielders working hard and the strikers creating chances. It was a brilliant one to watch.”

Cooper’s first goal for Leeds since his summer move from Chesterfield capped a fine individual display by the former Hull City junior.

It followed on from another steady performance four days earlier in the home draw with Charlton Athletic.

In both games, his chance came through suspension to a team-mate – Jason Pearce against the Addicks and Giuseppe Bellusci versus the Seasiders – but Redfearn will surely find it hard to drop Cooper when the Championship resumes for Leeds a week on Saturday at Blackburn Rovers.

Asked about what has been a stop-start beginning to life at 
Elland Road, Cooper said: “That is football. If you aren’t patient in football, it will eat you up.

“I have just worked hard and kept my head down and luckily managed to start the last couple of games. So, hopefully, long may that continue.

“That is down to the manager and the staff. I am just going to give my all in every game and if that’s enough, that’s enough to stay in the team.”