Alex Cooper set on full-time return after Caley Thistle trial
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ALEX Cooper is chomping at the bit to get back involved in football again after an injury-hit 12 months.
The former Ross County midfielder has played twice as a trialist for Caley Thistle in the last week, as he makes his comeback from a torn hamstring.
An impressive display in the 4-1 win over Nairn County on Friday night will have done his chances of earning a deal no harm. Cooper scored one and set up another, forming a good relationship with left-back Joe Chalmers.
Following his move to Cheltenham in October, Cooper tore his hamstring on his debut and was released by Town in the January transfer window. He finished the season at League One club East Fife.
But having minutes under his belt and pre-season training in the bag, Cooper is keen to crack on and return to playing.
"It's been very frustrating," said Cooper. "But I'm positive about cracking on. I tore my hamstring, which was a freak thing, that ruled me out for a while. But I got some good rehab done and was back fit before the end of the season.
"It was nice to get minutes on the pitch again, to build for the coming season. I've enjoyed it here and being involved in training."
Cooper started his career at Ross County, before a four-year spell at Liverpool. He returned to the Staggies in 2011 but left for a second time in 2014, joining Falkirk. He has also played for St Mirren and could feature for the Caley Jags again when they play Clach at Grant Street Park tonight.
The wide areas are competitive at the moment, with Jake Mulraney, Zak Elbouzedi and Aaron Doran on the club's books. Cooper showed his versatility against Nairn, drifting infield and also playing on the right flank.
"We've said to Alex, come in and show us what you've got," said manager John Robertson. "He's under no illusions who he's got to get past – we've got Elbouzedi and Jake Mulraney in the same position. But he's shown he's got something and if he wants to come and play for us, he's going to have to keep showing that."
The 25-year-old was part of an Inverness side that fielded just four contracted players against Nairn on Friday, with Robertson forced to call in favours from Clach to take players in as trialists to fill the squad.
Cooper, however, was one of five players looking to win permanent contracts, alongside Chalmers, David Ferguson, Jack Leitch and Andrew Blake. If there is a chance to stay, he would be more than happy to.
"The gaffer phoned me a few weeks ago asking if I wanted to come in and I was keen to come get a feel for the place. It was ideal," said Cooper. "I'm open to staying here and I'll see how things develop. I'll speak to the manager and see what the score is."
He added that his father Neale, the ex-County manager and Aberdeen midfielder, and his health concerns have not been too much of a distraction too him.
Cooper senior suffered a heart attack a fortnight ago in Aberdeen and was admitted to hospital just before his son was due to join up with Caley Thistle.
"He's all good. It delayed me coming in for a few days but it hasn't been too much of a distraction," said Cooper.
Robertson admitted after the Nairn game he would likely need players to leave before he could strengthen his squad further.
Owain Fon Williams has already been told he can leave, while Ross County have had several bids for Ross Draper turned down.
Seven players have already joined the Caley Jags, with Robertson keen on bringing in another striker before the start of the season.
Another former Falkirk man, Darryl Duffy, played in the 2-0 defeat to Elgin City on Saturday. Fellow strikers John Baird and George Oakley, both summer additions, are struggling with knocks and neither featured over the weekend.
