Cooper eager to face old club

The 28-year-old left Fratton Park in 2005 to join Bournemouth.

And he could play his first game against his former club on Sunday after leaving Dean Court in the summer.

Cooper said: ’Getting released by Portsmouth was the best thing that has happened to me. The younger players didn’t really have a chance under Harry Redknapp and I was just rotting in the reserves.

‘I’d lost my way a little bit.

‘But then I joined Bournemouth and got the opportunity to play some first-team football.

‘I’m looking forward to the game and it would be great to play – I’ve never played against Portsmouth before.

‘I don’t think I know any of the current squad there, though.’

The Isle of Wight-raised Cooper is also expecting a noisy invasion of Blues fans at Crawley’s Broadfield Stadium.

He said: ‘The Pompey fans are incredible.

‘The atmosphere at Fratton Park is intense.

‘It would be great if the Crawley fans could out sing the Portsmouth fans on Sunday.’