HUDDERSFIELD Town boss Lee Clark today explained why loan defender Liam Cooper has not been getting a look-in.
Clark signed the 19-year-old from Hull City to provide a left-sided option in central defence, but he's made just one appearance so far in the Carling Cup at Port Vale.
In recent matches, Clark has preferred Jamie McCombe alongside skipper Peter Clarke, but he says Cooper will definitely get his chance.
"Liam is doing very well and impressing," said Clark, who has a fully-fit squad for tomorrow's Galpharm clash with Wycombe Wanderers.
I've just made the decision of who I want to go with, but an opportunity will come Liam's way because we have got a lot of games to come.
"With regard to midweek, I just wanted to give those players who did so well in the second half against Colchester another opportunity to show what they could do against Cardiff.
"For one reason or another we have conceded some disappointing goals, but we have four very good centre-backs in the club (Clarke, McCombe, Cooper and Antony Kay) and, in among those, we have characters who are not like a lot of the modern-day players.
"These are lads who will play through the pain barrier for you and not let you know if they are carrying a niggle.
"They are so desperate to play and pull on the jersey and they might have done themselves a little disservice at times because they have played with little knocks and niggles which have been more painful than they have let me know and it might have affected performances.
"I've been there myself though, because I never wanted to miss any games and, for the last five or six years of my career I used to use up every jab in the doctor's bag before games as a means to get out on the pitch and get on with the business.
"It's not doing me any favours now I'm getting older, but I understand players wanting to play all the time."
Cooper may well get a chance at Northampton on Tuesday in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, but Clark still has to play six men who have featured in the majority of games so far, under the rules of the competition.
"That restricts you," he said. "I could easily make more than five changes and not weaken my side because I've got a fantastic squad and I really believe in them, but we are not allowed to."
