COOPER OUT TO BE SUPER, JUST LIKE BRANDON
OLLIE Cooper hopes he can follow in the footsteps of his Swansea City team-mate and namesake Brandon by excelling on loan at Newport County. The midfielder, still just 21, has been given the chance to play his first senior football at Rodney Parade this season by Swansea head coach Russell Martin.
He has played 90 minutes in all of Newport’s last three matches and helped Mike Flynn’s men to a second consecutive 2-2 draw in their meeting with Harrogate Town on Friday night.
Last season, defender Brandon Cooper spent the first half of the campaign with Newport and he is now a regular with Swansea as well as a member of Rob Page’s Wales squad.
“I spoke to Brandon a lot before coming here and everything he had to say about Newport – the players, staff and the club as a whole – was very positive,” said Ollie Cooper.
“To see him come here and play as well as he did, then make the step up this season, that’s what I want to do. I want to follow that path.”
Ollie Cooper has five Swansea appearances to his name, but playing regular senior football in League Two with Newport this term will be priceless for his development.
He came close to a stunning goal against Harrogate on Friday night as Mike Flynn’s men recorded an impressive point against a side who are still unbeaten in the fourth tier.
All the goals came in the first half with Flynn’s Exiles twice taking the lead through Scot Bennett and Robbie Willmott before the hosts fought back through Jack Muldoon and Luke Armstrong.
“Leyton Orient was the first game of men’s football I’ve had to start and finish,” said Cooper, who is the son of former Cardiff and County midfielder Kevin. “At this level you need to win and it’s about points while growing up through the academy is about development and improving.
“This is about getting results and points on the board to get promoted or avoid relegation. It’s a real test to go from academy football to mustwin games.
“You want to play in front of crowds in pressure games because it shows whether you can do it or not. It’s alright playing behind closed doors with nothing on it but this is where it matters.”
Newport manager Flynn will hope his team and Cooper can continue their development against Northampton Town at Rodney Parade on Tuesday.
“He just wants me to play with freedom and express myself and to get on the pitch and enjoy my football,” said Cooper about his new boss.
“Ultimately, one of the reasons for the decision to come to Newport was that I know they want to get the ball down to play. That suits my game.
“A lot of other clubs are very direct in their style of play. Getting the ball on the floor and driving with it, running at players and creating chances is what I want to do.”