Cooper is unwilling to make way for Ehiogu

The evergreen Cooper, 37 in February, has deputised for Ehiogu this season while the former Aston Villa man has recovered from cruciate ligament damage.

Ehiogu is now near a first team return, and Cooper said: "Ugo has played two reserve games, he is fit, and says his knee is strong.

"But I'm not going to stand aside and say 'there you are, Ugo, it's all yours.' That's not in my nature.

"Every game is a bonus for me. At the start of the season I thought I would just be cover. Ugo wants to try to get back in the England team for the European Championships. He wants to play for us soon and I believe he will when he's ready, but I want to stay in the side.''

Cooper felt like quitting the game after the tragic death of two-year-old son Finlay in January last year, but wife Julie urged him to carry on playing.

The former England international won a new one-year contract from manager Steve McClaren in the summer and, despite his advancing years, is eyeing another extension at the end of the season.

"The manager knows I will give 100 per cent in any position, but I'm playing where I'm strongest now, at centre-back,'' said Cooper, who is in his second spell with the club that launched his career.

"When Ugo is back I'll assess the situation. I want another contract when this one ends in June. When it happened to Finlay I wanted to quit but my wife ordered me to play on to try to get the family back on an even keel. She said it was the only way.

"Old players say you should play as long as you can - and they're right. I want to carry on as long as I can, even though people my age like Dennis Wise and Les Ferdinand are packing up.

"I want another year and I'd like to stay here in some capacity as a coach after that. It's been 15 years of my life and I'd like to put something back.

"But nothing has been done because I'm in the side and the manager has told me to forget everything and concentrate on playing. He's right. Maybe we'll see about cracking the coaching badge in the new year.

"My aim here at the start of the season was twofold - to play my 700th game and reach 400 for Boro.

"I've achieved the first and the lads presented me with a shirt with 700 on the back. I'm told it's five more for 400 for Boro, so it would be nice to get there before Ugo is back."

Cooper added: "People have talked about a testimonial, but they're not necessary any more. If there was one it would be for charity, local charities and people who have supported me for 20 years, particularly since we lost Finlay."

Cooper will be alongside Southgate today when his skipper makes his 100th appearance for the club.

Boro face Birmingham at St. Andrews as McClaren's side chase Arsenal's record for consecutive clean sheets in the Premiership. Boro are on a run of seven shut-outs and only the Gunners, in 1998, have managed more since the Premiership's inception 11 years ago.

The Teessiders' string of clean sheets has equalled their club record set in the old Division Two in 1987, and Cooper - then a 20-year-old left-back - played in that team as well.

McClaren, buoyed by Boro's Carling Cup shoot-out victory at Tottenham in midweek and the prospect of a two-legged semi-final with Arsenal, is hoping to add two new faces to his squad next month to launch a push for a top-half Premiership place.

Boro are unbeaten in ten League and Cup games and McClaren wants to maintain the momentum. Chairman Steve Gibson is equally eager to see Boro step up their challenge for honours, and McClaren said: "The chairman has always backed our judgement. In two-and-a-half years here we have got our house in order on and off the field.

"We take decisions together. Every club has financial restrictions, but if a player becomes available and we can do something, the chairman has proved in the past - and I'm sure he will again - that he will try everything in his power to make things happen to improve the squad.

"We have a good nucleus and one or two additions would help us move forward. With the league being so tight, it's a fine line between the top half and the bottom half. We need to make sure we're in the top half.''

McClaren admitted he could make "one or two changes'' as the effects of extra-time at White Hart Lane take a toll on his players.

Midfielder Gaizka Mendieta could be rested after looking jaded and missing his penalty in the shoot-out. McClaren said: "He's done ever so well for us and he's bound to have a dip at some stage. We're having a look at him, but he wants to play.''

* Boro striker Joseph Job yesterday returned to training following a knee ligament injury.

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