Noel Whelan has backed Leeds United captain Liam Cooper to come back bigger and stronger next season, after enduring a forgetful playoff semi-final second leg against Derby County.

Cooper, who sported the captain’s armband under Marcelo Bielsa this season, endured a horrendous second leg outing for Leeds during their playoff exit to Derby at Elland Road.  

 



The 27-year-old was involved in a comical mix-up with Kiko Casilla for the visitors’ opening goal on the night that came through Jack Marriott.

And the agony did not end there for Cooper, who was punished again when Harry Wilson converted the penalty awarded to the Rams after his pull on Mason Bennett in the second half.
 


Despite his catastrophic display during the playoff semi-final second leg, Cooper has received the backing of Whelan, who believes the Whites skipper can bounce back stronger next season.



The former Whites forward also credited Cooper for being exceptionally good at times during the season and being a leader throughout, which surprised many of his naysayers, who thought he did not have it in him.

“I think he’ll come back bigger and stronger next season, I thought he was exceptional this year and more of a leader on the field than he has ever been”, Whelan said on BBC Radio Leeds' Noel Whelan Show.
 

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“His personal performances, I think, have been at times surprising to some, because they didn’t think he had it in him.

"But I think he’s been brilliant.”

Cooper, who joined Leeds from Chesterfield in 2014, made 38 appearances in all competitions for Leeds during the recently concluded season.