Jordan Cook sees a Walsall platform
Friday 25th March 2011, 11:00AM GMT.
New signing Jordan Cook has revealed his desire to revive his career and fire Walsall to League One safety.
The Sunderland midfielder clinched a deadline-day loan until the end of the season yesterday and is set for his Saddlers debut at Milton Keynes Dons tonight.
Cook made his Black Cats bow at Manchester United this season, after snapping his cruciate knee ligament last term.
After fighting back, the 21-year-old wants to resurrect his career and keep the Saddlers up.
He said: “The injury was the worst time of my life. I had just been on loan at Darlington and things were going really well. I was making excellent progress and then the injury struck.
“I was playing in a reserve game for Sunderland when I badly twisted my knee and did cruciate and medial ligament damage.
“It was a bad time, but I managed to get through it and return this season. It’s certainly been a rollercoaster of emotions over the past 18 months but I’m pleased with how things are going.
“I am determined to play regularly here and show people what I am capable of.”
Cook joins Millwall loanee Marc Laird in the squad for the crunch clash at Stadium MK, as the fourth-bottom Saddlers bid to escape the drop zone.
And, after a loan spell at Darlington last season, when the Quakers dropped out of the Football League, Cook knows what to expect.
He said: “I am determined to do well here and help the club get the points we need to move us away from danger.
“I’m expecting League One to be tough and physical, particularly at this stage of the season when clubs are fighting for points. I’m looking forward to the challenge it will present me and feel it will stand me in good stead.
“This is a great place for me to come at this stage of my career. It’s a good club with excellent facilities and I know I will be playing at a good level and involved in some important matches.
“When I spoke to the manager, Dean Smith, earlier this week he was so enthusiastic about the club and made me feel really wanted, which counts for a lot and made my decision to come here an easy one.
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
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Is he old enough to be away from home? Looks like he’s been told he can’t go to McDonald’s.
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He’s older than Aaron Ramsey! Let’s hope he plays like a veteran. C’mon you Reds!
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i seen him play against manchester united on boxing day coming off the bench and he seems like a good player
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