Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Cooper nearing a comeback
Cherries star Shaun Cooper could be ready to hand Eddie Howe a timely boost by returning to action next month.[LNB] Long-term injury victim Cooper has been sidelined since undergoing a hip operation in the summer, but is on target to hit the comeback trail at the end of January.[LNB] He has been working on his rehabilitation with Cherries physio Steve Hard and will soon start an intensive fitness programme put together by conditioning coach John Dalzell.[LNB] Cooper has also been embarking on gruelling daily 90-minute cycle rides from his home to Cherries' training base at Canford School.[LNB] Boss Howe said: We've been keeping a close eye on Coops and he is coming along nicely. It's great to see him on the training pitch. He's only doing light ball work at this stage but it's great to see him back and, hopefully, he can get himself fit as soon as possible.[LNB] Crocked midfielder Mark Molesley, meanwhile, is next week set to discover his fate regarding his ongoing battle with a persistent foot problem.[LNB] Molesley is due to undergo an MRI scan at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital when a progress report will determine his next course of action.[LNB] The midfielder had been pencilled in to have an operation to cure the damage in November before a review of his scans revealed early signs of a stress fracture.[LNB] And in a bid to avoid seeing him go under the knife, Molesley was fitted with an air-cast boot and put on crutches for six weeks.[LNB] Should his foot have failed to respond, Molesley is likely to require major surgery and would probably be ruled out for the remainder of the season.[LNB] His scan is scheduled for Monday before Molesley will be given his prognosis later in the week.[LNB] Meanwhile, Howe is continuing to sweat on the fitness of injured duo Shwan Jalal and Anton Robinson.[LNB] Goalkeeper Jalal (calf) and midfielder Robinson (back) are both facing a race against time to recover ahead of Monday's Sky-televised showdown with Notts County.[LNB] Howe said: Neither of them has trained this week and we will leave it as late as we can.[LNB]
