Jake Cooper shoulder injury is in the past says Rowett

Big defender Jake Cooper’s shoulder injury is now in the past, says his boss.

The former Reading centre-back dislocated the joint in the 2-0 home win over Birmingham in February – but he has been building up the muscle around it in the summer and is now fully fit and able to use it, says Gary Rowett.

“It has held and now there is no issue at all,” said the Lions manager. “He did not need an operation and the strength in his shoulder is right back up there. He played all our pre-season games and there was no problem at all.

“Another player landed on him. But he wanted to play two days later, even though the advice was that he could dislocate it again. Then he did it again and I told him to stop falling over!

“He is always one of the first in the gym and is probably one of the most professional in terms of being diligent and recovers in the right way.

“He is back and will hopefully be able to play another 200 games now.”