Sunderland get Cooper on trial

Sunderland have taken on Wolves' midfielder Kevin Cooper for a trial period, with a view to a three month loan signing.

Derby-born Cooper, 28, will begin training with Sunderland on New Year's Day - but he will not be eligible to represent Sunderland in our FA Cup 3rd round match against Hartlepool on Saturday.

He has played only once for Wolves this season, playing the second half in Wolves' 4-0 home defeat against Charlton in his team's second match of this season.

Cooper, 28, is a left-sided player who McCarthy is hoping can fill the void left by the departures of loan signings Stewart Downing and Alan Quinn. He signed for Wolves in the spring of 2002 for £1m from Wimbledon.

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KEVIN COOPER

Derby County: July 93 to Aug 97, 5 apps, no goals.
Stockport: March 87 to May 97 (loan), 12 apps, 3 goals
Stockport: Aug 97 to March 01, 172 apps, 20 goals
Wimbledon: March 01 to March 02, 54 apps, 13 goals
Wolves: March 02 to present, 36 apps, 4 goals