Cherries: Cooper's on the comeback trail (From Thisisdorset)

Cherries: Cooper's on the comeback trail

7:00am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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PATIENT Shaun Cooper is hopeful he can boost Cherries’ promotion push as he carefully enters the final stages of his painstaking comeback mission.

The cultured utility man has yet to feature this season after undergoing major hip surgery in the summer – but he is set to make his long-awaited return to action for the club’s reserves at Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday.

Having seen his initial target of a new year return hampered, partly by the big freeze, Cooper has been forced to watch from the sidelines since his last Cherries appearance 11 months ago.

But after a lengthy rehabilitation programme – overseen by Cherries physio Steve Hard and conditioning coach Jon Dalzell – Cooper looks on course to hand manager Eddie Howe a big boost.

He is scheduled to up his bid for fitness by turning out at Plymouth – and the talented 26-year-old will use that as a springboard as he tries to help Cherries during their League Two run-in.

Cooper, one of the key players in last season’s relegation escape, told the Echo: “If I don’t have any more setbacks, I’ll definitely be available for the squad with a few games left over.

“It would be nice just to get involved and, hopefully, play a small part if the chance becomes available.

“We want to get promoted and do it automatically and the lads are all really focused on it.

“Training has been different class. The tempo and the work rate of the lads is brilliant – you can see why we’ve done so well this season.

“It’s just good to be a part of it every day again.”

Cooper has been training with Howe’s squad in recent weeks and is coming to the end of what he described as a “pre-season” programme with Dalzell.

The influential player, who said he was “very optimistic” his hip would be okay when he returns to action, added: “I’m feeling good. I’m taking it each day at a time and don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but everything is feeling all right at the moment.

“I’ve had to be patient but it’s the only way really. Maybe I did a bit too much, too soon to start with when I was able to walk again.

“We’ve really taken our time with it to get everything right. I can feel the progression, so that’s good.

“I’m only planning to do half an hour next week. I’d like to do more but I don’t want to over-do it. If I manage to get through the half-hour okay, I’ll be more than happy.”

Fellow long-term injury victims Mark Molesley and Scott Guyett have both started running.

Captain Jason Pearce, who misses today’s League Two clash at Grimsby Town (3pm), is expected to be out for about another two weeks with his fractured toe.