HAVING described his performances so far as “only average,” Joel Cooper insists the best is still to come in a Coleraine shirt…

Despite scoring four times since his summer move to The Showgrounds – including a tidy finish in last weekend’s victory at Portadown – Cooper admits he is still regaining sharpness after a disrupted pre-season.

Although he currently tops the Bannsiders’ scoring charts alongside Matthew Shevlin, Cooper highlighted the importance of goals being spread across the team.

“Average enough, I think,” he said of his performances.

“I know the debut was nice to score in, but then I had a few games where I didn’t feel myself.

“I just didn’t feel sharp and stuff and I had a bit of stop and start pre-season…but with more games I’m starting to feel fresh and sharp again, so I’m looking forward to every game.

“The quality is unbelievable in the changing room.

“It shows in some of the goals we’re scoring and some of the play, but it’s enjoyable as a forward player when you have quality around you to link up with.

“Our goals can come from everywhere, which is massive as well. I think it shows whenever we have different goal scorers and stuff, so it’s nice.”

Glentoran visit The Showgrounds tomorrow night as the Bannsiders prepare for another blockbuster game in the Sports Direct Premiership.

It marks the first home league game in more than a month for Coleraine – and Cooper has called on a strong vocal backing once again.

He stated: “I’m expecting a tough game…Glentoran are tough, they had a good performance last Friday, so I think it’s going to be a different task for us.

“But we’re at home and we want to be dominant at home and make this a really tough place to come.

“I think we have to be at our best to get anything, but we’ll certainly prepare properly and give everything we can.

“The fans have been brilliant. Like I say, when they come out in their numbers, it spurs us on as a group, especially when times get tough during a game, you need that support.

“Since I’ve been here, the support has been nothing but positive. Like I say, when they come out in their numbers, it’s massive for us, so hopefully we can get a good backing on Friday.”

Supporters can get tickets for tomorrow night’s game HERE.