Frustrated forward Andy Cooke today spoke of the “nightmare” beginning to his Shrewsbury Town career - and declared himself fit for a return for Saturday’s trip to Grimsby
The 32-year-old has bagged four goals in nine starts - including a memorable hat-trick at Stockport - since signing for his home town club in the summer.
But that only tells half the story with a string of niggling injuries limiting Cooke’s appearances.
The latest setback - a groin strain - is now overcome and Cooke proved his fitness by playing 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Port Vale yesterday where an otherwise youthful Town team lost 3-0.
And the former Burnley and Stoke striker is hoping that will be the trigger for a return to the squad for Saturday’s trip to Blundell Park.
“It feels fine this morning and I will be available for the weekend if selected,” he said.
“Nobody would believe how frustrating it’s been over the last few months because I just want to be out there and doing well for Shrewsbury. I haven’t had any injuries for four or five seasons and now they all seem to come at once.
“They have only been little niggles and it’s not as i I’ve picked them up in games. I’m always 100 per cent ‘at it’ in training and it’s been a case of over-stretching now and again.
“I’m the worst person to be around when I’m not involved in training and games and it’s been a nightmare.
“I was close to playing at Accrington and would loved to have done so because I lived in that neck of the woods for about six years and have a lot of friends up there.
“But we didn’t want to rush back and cause problems further down the line.
“Hopefully I can be involved on Saturday because I’m so desperate to help the team do well and get my season going.”
Cooke believes Town have to develop the knack of “winning ugly” if they are to bolster their play-off challenge.
“A few of the results have been disappointing but we are still in there,” he said.
“We are not always going to play well, particularly away from home, and it’s a case of grinding out the result when that happens. If we can start doing that, we will be right back in there.”
By JAMES GARRISON
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