Bannsiders set to be without attacking ace for a 'couple of weeks' as league leaders make trip to Portadown

The Coleraine attacker had to be substituted with a little less than a quarter of an hour remaining during last Saturday’s victory at Carrick Rangers.

Cooper was able to walk off the pitch but a scan has revealed that he is expected to miss the next couple of games for the league leaders.

However, whilst there is disappointment at losing the star power of Cooper at the top end of the pitch, Higgins is delighted that a defender within the squad is starting to return to fitness.

He further praised his squad for showing a different side to their game as they left the east Antrim venue with all three points.

"When you come off physical games like that and difficult conditions, then you do pick up a niggle or two along the way” Higgins said of the victory at Carrick.

"Joel (Cooper) will more than likely be a couple of weeks. Joel's a big player for us, we know that, and we'll work hard to get him fit.

"On positive news, Cameron Stewart's done a bit of training this week...so we've got one out and one potentially coming back, so that's where we're at.

"I love them types of wins because you know that your players are made of the right stuff.

"People talk about the quality that we have and individual talent and they're right, but they've also got really good character as well.

"Listen, we deserved to win the game, no doubt about it, we could have scored four or five goals and we deserved to keep a clean sheet because they didn't really threaten our goal.”

Portadown are currently without any points from their opening three games but Higgins remarked how they were unlucky to have nothing to show for their efforts last time out as they were beaten 3-2 by Crusaders at Seaview.

He also expressed his respect for Portadown boss David Jeffrey, labelling him as “a really good man”.

He explained: “Aye, it was a strange game actually. I was at it and 11 v 11, Crusaders were excellent...and then 11 v 10, when Portadown got a player sent off, they actually really grew into the game and finished the game really strong.

"We know that going to Shamrock Park on a Friday night is going to be a difficult task and we'll need to be on it to win the game because it's only a matter of time before they start picking up points.

"I have really good respect for Davy. He's a good man, a really good man.

"He's a legend in Irish league football, but hopefully come 10pm on Friday night, we've added three points to our tally, because that's what we're going there for.

"We want to go there and win the game but we'll obviously show the opposition the respect they deserve as well.”