Cooper plans return

City's terrier-like midfielder Richard Cooper has suffered a year to forget with a broken leg and now a knee and hamstring problem that is taking longer than hoped to heal.

But speaking to the Evening Press, the former England Under-18 international is refusing to be downcast. Nor is he distracted from his one and only goal.

"It really is just a matter of looking after number one," said Cooper, who has yet to feature this season.

"It sounds selfish, but that is the way I have got to be.

"The team is doing really well at the moment and of course it would be great to be playing in a successful side.

"But I have to get fit first, then worry about getting in the team."

The luckless Cooper suffered his current injury in a practice match just eight days into pre-season.

"When I first did it, I thought I had done something a bit serious because I felt a pain straight away in my knee," he explained.

"Initially, I thought I would be out for six to eight weeks. That is the normal procedure for an injury like this."

However, almost 11 weeks on and Cooper, although edging slowly closer to fitness, is some way off a first team recall.

"During the pre-season training camp at Durham I had a scan which revealed my medial ligament in my left knee was badly damaged," said the 22-year-old.

"It also showed I'd strained a hamstring tendon and it's that which is causing the delay. It's been a long process, but it is just a case of getting my head down, working hard and getting on with it.

"I had a steroid injection into the tendon last week to try to speed it up.

"I see Jeff (Miller, City's physio) each morning and depending on how it feels will depend on what sort of exercises I do."

Cooper had pencilled in next Wednesday's reserve team game at Mansfield as a possible return date but reckons that is now unlikely.

"It is difficult to say how long it will be," he admitted.

"I think it is more short-term now rather than a long-term problem.

"I had got the Mansfield game in mind, but I'm not sure now.

"I can run in straight lines without any real problems, it is just the twisting and turning that can be difficult."

To add salt into Cooper's wounds, his latest injury came just weeks after he completed his recovery from a broken leg.

The former Nottingham Forest defender suffered a fracture in January last year but bounced back for City's final game of last season.

"This is probably only the second injury I've ever had since I started playing football," he lamented.

"It just so happens that I've had two pretty bad injuries in a very short space of time."

Despite the frustration of being on the sidelines, particularly when the side is playing well, Cooper is trying hard to remain upbeat.

"The lads and everyone at the club have been great and have really encouraged me," he said.

"And I'm just really pleased they have got off to a good start this season.

"There's a good atmosphere all around the club and I'm just really pleased for everyone."

SURPRISINGLY given City's bright start to the season, only Jon Parkin has so far been named in the Football League's Division Three teams of the week.

Not even the division's top scorer, Peter Duffield, has warranted inclusion, despite his six goals.

Just to rub it in, goalkeeper Marlon Beresford, after spurning the chance of a contract with City, made his debut for Burnley last Saturday in their 2-1 win over Derby and his display saw him immediately named in the Division One team of the week.

Beresford reportedly watched City in action against Bury last Friday night, less than 24 hours prior to his return to action with the Clarets.

Another interested spectator at Gigg Lane was City's top scorer of last season, Michael Proctor. Now on loan at Bradford City, the Sunderland man was spotted taking his seat in the main stand ahead of the Shakers' game.

SHEFFIELD United boss and former York City winger Neil Warnock reckons he deserves a place in Bootham Crescent folklore.

Writing in his programme notes ahead of Tuesday night's Worthington Cup clash, Warnock maintains he probably holds the record for the shortest reign as skipper at Bootham Crescent.

"It was the beginning of the (1978) season against Grimsby," wrote Warnock.

"I was poorly, we lost, I was dropped afterwards and never given the honour again."

That 2-0 defeat to the Mariners was Warnock's solitary League start for the Minstermen. He made only four more appearances in a City shirt before transferring to Crewe in December.

ANOTHER familiar face to City fans to feature in Tuesday night's match programme was Andy Leaning.

Former City shot-stopper Leaning has returned to Bramall Lane, where he made 21 appearances for Sheffield United in the 1980s, to work as a goalkeeping coach.

York-born Leaning played for Nestle Rowntree before current Wrexham boss Denis Smith signed him for City in 1985. He made 86 appearances for City before moving to Bramall Lane in 1987.

Updated: 11:19 Saturday, September 14, 2002