Leeds United defender Liam Cooper was a standout performer for the Whites throughout the season.

The 27-year-old skipper was in fine form for the Whites as they just narrowly missed out on promotion both via the play-offs, and in the race for the top two.

Cooper was named in EFL team of the season in the Championship, something which was a testament to his performances and just reward for putting in some fine displays in the back four as Marcelo Bielsa entrusted his skipper with leading the club out on the field.

Indeed, Cooper has gained further recognition this past week it would seem, with news emerging that new Scotland manager Steve Clarke is set to hand the Leeds man a recall to the international fold.

And Cooper should be more than a little bit smug about this news, given how he was frozen out of things under former Scotland manager Alex McLeish, not to mention the fact he has proved plenty of sceptical Leeds fans wrong with his showings over the last 12 months.

Of course, such is the character of Cooper, he won't in anyway be having feelings of smugness, but he must surely have an element of pride about himself after getting back to the pinnacle.

It is well known that Scotland have struggled for some time, and for Cooper to be excluded from the international set up is quite simply mind boggling.

However, the Leeds man will now hope to firmly cement himself back in the fold and establish himself as a key player at international level.

A proven Championship defender who will have been heartbroken to see his side come up short in the run-in, Cooper will at least head into the summer with some positive news and a spring in his step ahead of leading the Elland Road club towards another run at promotion next season.