JOEL IS A JEWEL..

Healy hails form of super Cooper

LINFIELD boss David Healy believes livewire winger Joel Cooper is proving why he pushed so hard to lure him from Glenavon in the summer.

Cooper has been one of the players of the season so far and took his goal tally to five in nine appearances against Ballymena at the weekend.

At times, the 22-year-old was unplayable and bagged a superb winner when he rifled into the bottom corner after side stepping United defender

Andy Mcgrory.

It has been a vibrant and assured start to life at

Windsor for Cooper, but

Healy (inset) believes there’s more to come from the former Northern Ireland U21 star.

Asked if we’ve seen the best of the winger yet, Healy replied: “No. He has great attributes – pace and power. He likes getting at people and defenders don’t know what to do.

“People end up fouling him and as the fouls mount, defenders can’t touch him and that’s when he becomes more dangerous. He makes things happen.”

Cooper was enlisted as a non-squad player by Michael O’neill to assist with Northern Ireland training at Euro 2016. Healy added: “We were lucky to get Joel because he is a young player who had already played 80 to 100 games in this league.

“He was also in and around the U21s and went to France, so we always knew there was a player there. His goal against Ballymena was terrific.

“He read the flick-on, picked up the second ball, drove at people and hit it with his right foot. It was a fantastic strike to win the game.”

Healy praised Linfield’s character after hitting back from 1-0 down to beat Ballymena 2-1, with goals from Cooper and another summer arrival Michael O’connor.

The Blues are unbeaten in 11 domestic games this season and lie just a point below Glenavon at the top of the league.

“It was our best win to date, especially when you’re 1-0 down,” said Healy. “Ballymena are a good side and have match winners up the pitch.

“They’re probably the only team in the league that plays with a back three, so it can be difficult, but the players’ attitude was terrific.”

for Friday’s North Belfast derby between Crusaders v Cliftonville – BBC NI’S first live game of the season – has been rescheduled for 7.45pm.

Joel Cooper scored the winner at the weekend