'˜Jewel in the crown' Cook happy to commit his future to Leeds

It was not a particularly mischievous one either, what with the transfer deadline day coming up and all that.

But it did have everything to do with his strong sense of satisfaction after delivering an elegant performance on a raw winter’s day in Lancashire which helped orchestrate Leeds United’s passage into the last 16 of the FA Cup.

Cook’s on-pitch poise, come wind, hail, rain and sleet, was easy to detect and you suspect those Premier League scouts sat in the main stand at the Macron Stadium – of which there were several – would have foregone the need to scribble away furiously. Just one word will have been required. Class.

Cook, for his part, was a picture of contentment after enjoying himself immensely in the ‘No 10’ role in a fluid 4-2-3-1 system – with just a hint of swagger.

He had no thoughts of an impending move to the Premier League, just a warm feeling inside after a job well done for the club whom he first joined at the age of six.

Plus there was a touch of pride at sending a 6,630-strong travelling army home happy allied to a sense of marvel at their incessant support.

Cook left the effusive sentiments afterwards to head coach Steve Evans, who spoke about the gifted midfield player’s display providing ample evidence as to just why, in his words, six or seven top-flight clubs are ready to make offers – but are currently wasting their time with United’s crown jewel being not for sale.

While Cook might view some of the all-singing and dancing deadline day coverage, led by impresario and hyperbole merchant Jim White later today, it will not be for reasons of self-interest – more as a plain old viewer.

Cook, who does not turn 19 until next week, is refreshingly staying grounded amid speculation regarding his future, while also having the good sense to realise that his current interests are better served in the white jersey of Leeds.

On whether he will be tuning in today, Cook said: “I like watching it, it’s a good part of the day. But I’m a Leeds player.”

“I won’t pay attention to it. I am a Leeds player.”

On speculation regarding his future, he added: “Maybe, for some people, it might be a bit disruptive. But not really for me. I just focus on my game and playing for Leeds. That’s it.

“I am 18 and playing most games. It’s great for me developing and I feel like I am learning a lot and, hopefully, I can push on my game a little bit further.

“Some people make the choice (to move) and it doesn’t always work out for them. I feel like at the moment I am enjoying my football and like being around it.

“Leeds is a big club as it is and you saw the fans turn out today and they demanded it with the noise they created. I love playing for Leeds at the moment, it’s great.”

It was a good weekend all around. So often in recent years, Leeds have delivered flat performances in front of an epic travelling audience, but Saturday was a day when things, for once, came together.

No need for gallows humour, although fans – in typical Leeds fashion – were afforded the sight of a wobble or two in a tense denouement when Bolton pulled a late goal back to harbour hopes of earning a surprise replay.

Other than that, it was a largely straightforward afternoon, although there was nothing ordinary about United’s offensive display for the most part, which was on the money in terms of delivering an object lesson in counter-attacking play, particularly in the first half.

Fielding a flexible formation with Liam Bridcutt and full debutant Toumani Diagouraga on patrol in front of the defence and Cook handed a licence to thrill further forward, the cut of United’s gib was eye-catching.

It yielded two goals, a lead which was not flattering.

The first owed a fair bit to the inadequacies of home goalkeeper Ben Amos, who horribly fluffed Souleymane’s Doukara’s standard eighth-minute low shot into the net. But the poise in the build-up from Doukara and Stuart Dallas equally should not be down-played either.

Gary Madine spurned a golden chance to level after some fitful Leeds defending but, by and large, the visitors were comfortable and a classy second arrived six minutes before the break.

It proved a milestone moment for Diagouraga, who ended his marathon wait for his first goal since March, 2013, with a cool low finish after latching onto Mirco Antenucci’s delightful pull-back after Leeds threw numbers forward in a high-class counter.

It looked as though the only issue up for discussion was the margin of Leeds’s victory going into the second half, with the impression that it would not be Bolton’s day reinforced when the wasteful Madine lacked conviction in front of goal and allowed Bamba to block with the goal at his mercy.

An unlikely source in Scott Wootton spurned a fine chance to seal victory for Leeds after a telling break before Giuseppe Bellusci produced a saving challenge to deny Darren Pratley.

The Wanderers captain fared better nine minutes from time following substitute Kaiyne Woolery’s corner, hammering home after latching onto Rob Holding’s header.

That was the prelude to a nervy finale, with Madine’s wretched day summed up when his effort clipped the post when it looked easier to score after Marco Silvestri parried Pratley’s shot right into his path.

But, for once, fortune smiled upon Leeds. A rarity.

Bolton Wanderers: Amos; Vela, Dervite, Holding, Moxey; Feeney, Trotter, Pratley, Davies (Spearing 70); Wellington (Woolery 70), Madine. Unused substitutes: Rachubka, Derik, Dobbie, Twardzik, Walker.

Leeds United: Silvestri, Wootton, Bamba (Coyle 89), Bellusci, Taylor; Diagouraga, Bridcutt; Dallas, Cook (Adeyemi 90); Doukara; Antenucci (Carayol 86). Unused substitutes: Peacock-Farrell, Sloth, Murphy, Erwin.

Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).