YANK INVASION

Cooper seems to be keeping both feet on the ground as he finishes the first month with his new employers.

Cooper had been training with the Reserves, just a step below the first team, and was pleased to get an opportunity to start the match against Everton at Southport FC.

He got decent reviews on his first run out, played in front of 8,000 people. Cooper said he didn't hear much from his coaches about his performances, but
noted that the big crowd reminded him of another soccer experience closer to home.

"When our teams played in the Dallas Cup we would sometimes have some very big crowds, and this is what that reminded me of, a small ground with a big crowd. I loved it," he said.

Cooper, who is living with a family in the Manchester area, said the every-day, twice-a-day nature of training is the biggest difference he is adjusting to.

"AT home it was twice a week, at night time, but here, you wake up and train every day."

"It's consistently intense," he said. "You're always getting something out of it.”