Cooper targets match sharpness
The former Blues trainee returned to the club on loan from Crawley last week – more than a decade after making his debut under Graham Rix.
But the Isle of Wight-born midfielder believes he needs games after missing much of the season through a groin injury and having to overcome a serious hip injury two years ago.
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Hide AdCooper said: ‘That was only my third game in four-and-a-half months so I’m still a bit rusty. Fitness-wise and injury-wise, there is no pain anywhere and that’s all good.
‘So it’s just about getting up to match sharpness again on the ball.
‘It’s still not there yet but I am working hard to get there. I was out for three-and-a-half months in total.’
The 29-year-old spent seven years at Bournemouth after leaving Fratton Park, before moving to Crawley last summer.
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Hide AdBut he admits the lure of his old club was too much to turn down when he heard of Guy Whittingham’s interest.
‘I was training well when I was back fit again but I couldn’t get in the Crawley team,’ said Cooper.
‘But as soon as I got the call from Portsmouth, it was an easy decision to make.
‘I was well aware of the situation coming down here and I was well aware we might lose a few.
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Hide Ad‘But I care about this club and I want to give it a right good go while I’m here.
‘It was a scrappy game last night but I thought we improved from the Hartlepool game. I thought we were unlucky and we didn’t deserve to lose 2-0.’