Highly-rated Plymouth Argyle prospect Mike Cooper has set his sights on being the club’s first choice goalkeeper next season.
The 20-year-old has made five starts for the Pilgrims in cup ties but his involvement in league action has been limited to two substitute appearances.
On both occasions he came off the bench as an injury replacement, first for Kyle Letheren and then Matt Macey.
Cooper was the back-up to West Bromwich Albion loan signing Alex Palmer during 2019/20.
Palmer started all 37 of the Pilgrims’ League Two games before the suspension of the season, with Cooper a substitute for each one.
Under contract to Argyle until the summer of 2022, Cooper hopes to take major strides in his career next term.
He revealed his ambitions in a video interview as the first part of the ‘Plymouth College Presents’ series.
Cooper was a student at Plymouth College before starting his apprenticeship at Argyle in 2016.
He was asked about his personal aims for the next 12 months in the interview with Phil Mutlow, the college’s director of sport.
Cooper said: “Definitely, at the start of next season, try and be the starting goalkeeper and get a lot more games under my belt.
“Ultimately, become a better player, gain a lot more match experience in the professional ranks and then, hopefully, kick on from that in the seasons following.”
Mutlow then asked Cooper whether playing for England or in the Premier League were part of his long-term goals.
Cooper replied: “Well, I want to play for England and in the Premier League.
“That’s the ultimate goal, but then you have got to set yourself little goals underneath that to give you the best chance of getting to where you want to.
“For now, it’s just getting more games and more experience and see where it takes me really.
“I have still got loads of time on my hands. I’m just taking it all in my stride really.”
Cooper signed a two-and-a-half-year contract extension with Argyle last December as manager Ryan Lowe recognised the potential of the promising shot-stopper.
Palmer has also admitted that the competition provided by Cooper contributed to his fine form for the Pilgrims as he knew he had to maintain his high level of performances.
While Cooper has his targets for next season, for now he and everyone else is having to deal with the uncertain times caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cooper said: “I’m holding up well considering everything that is happening. I’m just ticking over and waiting for everything to get back to normal.”
Argyle were third in League Two, and chasing the title as well as automatic promotion, when the season was suspended in March.
Cooper said: “The first few weeks I was pretty fed up. It got to the business end of the season and then it just got cancelled like that.
“Football aside, it has been alright. The two main things you can do to keep yourself going is doing exercises and eating well.
“It has been tough but there is not much we can do really is there because of the guidelines? It has got to be done.”
With the security of a long-term contract, Cooper is in a fortunate position compared to a lot of players in League One and League Two.
Many of them will become free agents later this summer, at a time when football is facing a huge financial crisis owing to the repercussions of the pandemic.
Cooper said: “I signed a two-and-a-half-year extension in December and that was really pleasing.
“I guess that has sort of helped in this situation because most players, their contracts are supposed to be coming up in June.
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“That’s pretty difficult to be fair. You would rather be in a contract, like myself, at the moment than not.
“I didn’t know that at the time but it has sort of helped in this situation. To get another deal at Argyle is really pleasing.”
Cooper also admitted he had learned a lot from watching 23-year-old Palmer in action for Argyle.
"He's a very good goalkeeper and it's just about me keep working hard," said Cooper.
"He's 23 and this is his first season in professional football really. I'm only 20 so I have got a lot of time.
"I have learned a lot from watching him in games, and even the outfielders, and it's all still good exposure for the future."
He added: "I have played four cup games this season, which has helped."
You can watch the full interview with Cooper at: https://blog.plymouthcollege.com/2020/05/27/plymouth-college-presents/
