Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Howe won't rush Cooper
BOSS Eddie Howe insists Cherries will continue to tread carefully with Shaun Cooper as the key man prepares to make his long-awaited return to action. The influential utility man, a former Cherries captain, is set to step up his recovery when Cherries' reserves travel to face Plymouth Argyle at Tiverton Town FC this afternoon (2pm). Cooper has been sidelined since undergoing serious hip surgery in the summer, but after a painstaking rehabilitation programme overseen by physio Steve Hard and conditioning coach Jon Dalzell, he is ready to enter the final phase of his comeback mission. He is set to feature for about half-an-hour against the Pilgrims as he bids to regain sufficient fitness to play a part in Cherries' promotion push. But Howe admitted the club could not afford to rush the former Pompey trainee. He said: I'd love to have Shaun back involved but what we have to make sure is we don't push him too early and he breaks down. He's had a long time out and it's a serious injury he had. We will wait until he feels ready. We won't push him because that wouldn't be fair on the lad. He's done well to get back and he's looked good in training, but it's a case of him now building up his match fitness. I think he's still going to be two, three or four weeks away. A top performer during last season's great escape, Cooper would hand Cherries a boost should he return in time to bolster the wafer-thin Dean Court squad during the League Two run-in. The other professionals set to feature against Plymouth are Joe Partington, Josh McQuoid and Sammy Igoe. Cherries reserves: (from) Thomas, Stephenson, Cooper, Partington, Holmes, McQuoid, Igoe, Mackay-Steven, Magookin, Strong, Kemble, Hill, Strugnell, Oldring, Green.