Nothing to fear
Cody: We can mix it in top flight
St Mirren new boy Cody Cooke insists Saints have the recipe for success as they prepare to mix it in the top flight.
Cooke, 25, joined the Buddies from English National League South side Truro City last week having impressed boss Alan Stubbs at Jamie Vardy’s V9 Academy over the close season.
He became Stubbs’ second signing from the V9 Academy, which the Saints boss was coaching at, as he joined Josh Heaton in signing on the dotted line.
Cooke believes that he is ready to take on the big guns in the Scottish top flight as he admits he is readying himself for a step up in competition following discussions with Stubbs prior to his arrival.
He said: “I can’t wait to go and test myself at that next level and I feel completely ready for it.
“If I rewind a few years ago then I don’t know if I would have been – but I feel now that I am prepared for the test and it should be exciting.
“The background that the manager has, the sort of player he was and the clubs that he has already managed were a huge attraction for me.
“One of the first things that he said to me was that he would make me a better player.
“The attraction that comes with that and for someone to fill you with that confidence was something that made me want to come to the club.”
The striker was one of 42 non- league players invited to a week’s training at Manchester City’s academy as part of the V9 programme.
The scheme is designed to give non-league players the chance to impress scouts from top clubs.
And Cooke admits he put his all into the scheme in the hope of winning a deal.
He added: “It was hugely important to try and impress. There was a lot of people there watching. Alan was there, there were a lot of scouts there and a lot of people there from different clubs.
“Everyone knew we had to impress. Thankfully, I think I did that on most of the days and I came away thinking that I had done everything I could.
“Whether anything would happen or not I wasn’t sure but to get the call from Alan was fantastic and it is all down to the V9 Academy.”