Cody out to show boss what he’s made of

reserves less than two months ago.

He said: “I had six to eight weeks not training with the first team.

“It was frustrating but I did what I know best, got my head down and grafted.

“I put in performances for the reserves and made sure every day that the reserve team manager was going back to the gaffer with positive reports.

“Six to eight weeks later I found myself suddenly back in the fold and going from completely out of it to now being in the squad and coming on.

“I think that is testament to myself. I don’t want to just stop there, my next step is getting into the starting XI, playing every week and banging in goals because I definitely feel like I can do it.

“There is a lot of change expected in January and it is about proving that I can play a part.

“I have moved my whole life up here. I don’t want to be going anywhere any time soon.

“I want to be proving between now and then that I can be a big part of the manager’s plans and that I should be a part of his plans.

“Hopefully that is the case and I can get some minutes and make him pleased with what he sees.”

So with a raft of changes afoot for the start of the year, Cooke admits he has his fingers crossed that he will still be in Paisley come February 1.

His old life might seem a whole world away – but he insists he has no intentions of going back to the classroom and pulling on his teacher’s robes any time soon.

He said: “I was in that career and it was something that I had strived for even since I had started playing football.

“I have always been well educated and gone on to do my degree and stuff like that.

“I was in a good job but I was enjoying my football so it was a big decision to move to the other side of the country.

“I made that decision so I don’t want to let this just pass by me.

“Not that I have – but the way things have fallen, with the other manager leaving, it kind of felt that was happening and I didn’t want to let it slip away.

“Now I feel I am finally getting into form. Hopefully the fans are suddenly seeing what I can bring to the club.

“I was teaching down in Exeter, teaching BTec Sport to 16 to 18-year-olds.

“It has been a huge change to my life. I was living with my girlfriend down in Exeter but I had to move up here on my own.

“I was also really close to my family whereas now I am not.

“Those are little things that I probably took for granted at the time but have a huge impact. As soon as you move to another place I knew I needed time to adjust.

“Although it is now nearly December, I feel as though I am finally getting that.”