Leeds United have been dealt an injury blow to captain Liam Cooper.

The skipper was brought off in the 72nd minute of Saturday's Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers - a game which the Yorkshire side won 2-1.

The club's official website posted a statement that revealed that the 28-year-old had suffered a tear to his groin area and would subsequently miss Scotland's upcoming international fixtures.

While the injury news is bad news at first glance, the statement also said that Cooper 'will work with staff at Thorp Arch with a view to being fit following the international break'.

This news indicates that the injury may not be as bad as first feared, but there's still plenty of reasons for Leeds fans to be cautious.

Here's three reasons why.

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Liam Cooper's injury history

As a player there's little that you can do about suffering a tear, but for the Leeds skipper it's not the first time he's struggled in this area.

The 28-year-old missed three games last month as a result of a groin injury, meaning that it's an area that Cooper has struggled with previously.

Cooper also suffered knee and hamstring injuries last term which shows that the defender is somewhat prone to picking up injuries, meaning that it's crucial that the club look to address the issue properly and not rush him back ahead of schedule.

An injury that is prone to setbacks

Putting Liam Cooper's injury problems to one side, a tear in the groin is not an injury to be taken lightly.

Two weeks out indicates that perhaps the injury suffered by the Leeds skipper is milder than your typical tear, but that doesn't mean that it should be treated any differently.

Players who have suffered groin injuries in the past have often struggled with getting back to 100% fitness, with many suffering relapses of the same injury due to the area not being rehabilitated fully.

This is why it's crucial that the problem is treated properly to ensure that Cooper doesn't suffer long-standing problems with the area that could rule him out for a lot longer than one international break.

Plans long-term

Liam Cooper is crucial to the plans of Marcelo Bielsa, but it's essential that Leeds United manage this situation correctly.

It would be fantastic to see the defender leading the team out when they travel to Luton Town after the international break, but not if the skipper is not fully fit.

Yes, it would be a blow to see the skipper miss a fixture or two as a result of this injury, but that's certainly a better alternative to rushing him back and forcing the defender out of action for two or three months as a result of a more serious tear.

The Championship season is a marathon, not a sprint and so it's crucial that Liam Cooper is fit in the long-term and not just for the next game.