Cook says Forest boss Cooper is heading for the Prem, like his old gaffer Howe

STEVE COOK believes Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper is destined to observe within the footsteps of Eddie Howe.

The centre-half performed for Howe when he was an up-and-coming supervisor and went proper as much as the Premier League with Bournemouth.

Now Prepare dinner, 30, is taking part in for an additional vibrant younger supervisor in Cooper after deciding to finish his 10-year stint with the Cherries this month.

Since taking on at Forest, Cooper has lifted the staff from backside of the Championship to inside 5 factors of the play-off spots.

And Prepare dinner instructed SunSport: “Eddie and Steve evaluate nicely as a result of they each love the sport, are very clever and work extraordinarily laborious to attain success.

“They’re each good on the tactical facet of the sport, which is big, and there’s a willingness to place the hours in on the coaching floor to make sure they’ve staff that’s keen to run and sort out.

“At Bournemouth for years we had been one of many fittest groups within the league that will run, run and run.

“We felt if we pressed greater than the opposite staff we’d win.

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“We’re seeing that right here at Forest. We got the stats after the Millwall sport final weekend and our dash distances and efforts across the pitch had been our highest.

“You probably have that willingness to work laborious, just like the managers need, you’ll succeed.

“Steve and Eddie are each mentally on it. They check you to coach to close breaking level so on matchday you are able to do it.

“I’ve to say they’re very related of their methods.”

Cooper did an important job at Swansea – reaching the play-offs in his two seasons there, dropping to Brentford in final yr’s Wembley ultimate.

And the Welshman – who managed England Underneath-17s to World Cup glory in 2017 – is being tipped as the subsequent prime younger British boss to guide a staff within the Premier League.

Prepare dinner mentioned: “The supervisor right here is determined to handle within the Premier League and that filters via to all of the gamers who need to get there too.

“I completely suppose he’ll get there and hope he does it at his membership as a result of you may really feel the starvation.

“We don’t have relaxation days at Forest, there are not any coaching classes that simply move you by. I’ve been in conditions the place they’ve earlier than and that’s not the place you need to be.

“Earlier than signing right here, I spoke to him on quite a few events and he was an enormous consider me coming right here.

“He’s confirmed and this can be a massive membership simply ready for somebody to take them ahead and I feel he’ll.”

Prepare dinner is wanting ahead to seeing Derby boss Wayne Rooney on the Metropolis Floor on Saturday.

The Forest ace has acquired to know the previous England star over the previous yr after bumping into him whereas on vacation in Portugal.

Prepare dinner has performed towards him a couple of occasions however has by no means needed to go fully head-to-head with him.

I by no means had a tussle with Wayne Rooney on the pitch as a result of I might by no means get close to him.”

Steve Prepare dinner

He mentioned: “Wayne had labored himself again to central midfielder once I performed towards him.

“I bear in mind after we went to Man United on the final day of the season and the sport was known as off due to a bomb scare so needed to go up on the Tuesday and Wayne was within the centre of the park.

“He ran the sport and took the mick out of us.

“I by no means acquired to tussle towards him as a result of I couldn’t get close to him!

“And I used to be on the pitch when he was at Everton and Wayne needed to depart the pitch with a smashed eye.

“He was an important footballer, so aggressive, and I’m glad I didn’t have too many tussles with him!

“Over the previous yr or so I really acquired to know him off the pitch from holidays in Portugal.

“The way in which he speaks about soccer – he’s acquired an especially good footballing mind.

“When he performed the battle and want got here from inside him.  He actually asks for that and Derby are giving him that in the meanwhile.

“That’s the place they’re at – they’re combating for the whole lot.”

Prepare dinner is aware of what it takes to get out of the Championship as a result of he performed all 46 video games for Bournemouth after they received the title in 2015.

And he hopes to make use of that have to assist Forest.

He mentioned: “I used to be 24 on the time, an analogous age to some of the lads right here. I realized how laborious it was. It’s a relentless season anyway however when it’s a must to win quite a lot of soccer video games, you need to reply to losses in direction of the top of the season.

“We didn’t win for 5 video games and had been questioning if we’d even make the play-off however then received eight in a row to win the title.

“If you happen to reply nicely to a loss and go on a run, something is feasible.

“You solely must see the place Nottingham Forest had been at the beginning of the season with no wins in seven and backside of the league and now we’re 5 factors off the play offs with half the season to go. Something can occur.”

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