Sheffield Wednesday host Leeds United on Friday evening at Hillsborough, with the two sides gearing up for a fierce Yorkshire derby.  

Leeds head to Hillsborough looking for a return to winning ways, after Marcelo Bielsa saw his unbeaten start to the Championship season ended by Birmingham City last weekend.

Bielsa will find things tough against Wednesday, though, with Jos Luhukay’s side on an excellent run, which was extended last weekend at Villa Park, as the Owls recorded a 2-1 victory.

In our latest FLW Duel, we take a look at the two players who will lead Wednesday and Leeds into battle, focusing on captains, Tom Lees and Liam Cooper.

Lees has featured in all nine of Sheffield Wednesday’s fixtures, whilst Cooper has made seven appearances in the opening nine matches of the season.

Cooper has been superior to his counterpart in most areas this season, with Lees only averaging more clearances than the Leeds skipper.

The 27-year-old has two goals to his name this season compared to Lees’ one, whilst he averages more tackles and wins more aerial duels per game.

In possession, there isn’t much between the two players, although Cooper again comes out on top with an 80.1% pass success rate.

The Verdict

This Friday’s clash is going to be intriguing, as we find out if Leeds can react to their Birmingham defeat.

Lees and Cooper are sure to be right at the heart of the battle, with both boasting impressive numbers from the season so far.

Of course, Cooper has been better than Lees on paper, but the 27-year-old is crucial for Wednesday, as he’s their most experienced defender and the leader.

However, Cooper will be just as important for Leeds. He’s their leader, although he will be partnered by Pontus Jansson, which makes life easier for him.

Leeds will be hoping Cooper’s distribution remains good, as the 27-year-old’s passing has often been key to building attacks.

Thoughts? Let us know!

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