Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper will play his first game at the Theatre of Greens in over three months, against Ryan Lowe’s Preston North End tomorrow.
Goalkeeper Michael Cooper will make his first Home Park appearance for Plymouth Argyle since early December in tomorrow’s Championship clash against Preston North End.
The 24-year-old returned from a medial knee ligament injury in the 1-1 draw away to Blackburn Rovers last Saturday, reclaiming his place in the team from Conor Hazard. He hasn’t played a home game for the Pilgrims since they defeated Stoke City 2-1 on December 2, and he’ll be warmly welcomed back by the Green Army.
Ian Foster, the Pilgrims’ manager, said: “He has been training hard with the group for about two and a half to three weeks. He has waited his turn and has returned to a point where I believe I can pick him. He’s in good shape.
“He needs match fitness, which can only be obtained through games, so he will improve as his timing improves, but he is in a good place. He trained well before the Blackburn Rovers game, and I thought he performed admirably on Saturday. It’s fantastic to have a fit Michael Cooper back because he’s such an excellent player.”
Much of the attention surrounding Preston’s visit has been focused on Ryan Lowe’s return to Home Park for the first time since leaving as Argyle manager to take over at North End in December 2021.
Foster, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to face off against a close friend, Preston first-team coach and former Kidderminster Harriers teammate Mike Marsh.
Foster said, “I know Ryan, but not very well. He was kind enough to let me go up to the club last season. As an England coach, I had Liam Delap in my squad. Mike Marsh is someone I know very well. Mike and I have been friends for over 20 years; we played together, we worked together (for The Football Association), and I believe this is the first time we have faced off, which is nice.
“Marshy and I are good friends, but I’m sure Ryan would need any more motivation than to come up against former team and win the game. It’s our job to make sure he doesn’t do that.”
