SHAUN Cooper is determined to repay boss Eddie Howe’s faith after signing a new one-year contract with Cherries.

Cooper was offered terms despite being restricted to just six appearances during Cherries’ League Two promotion campaign.

The 26-year-old playmaker made his comeback at the end of March after enduring a lengthy spell on the sidelines following major hip surgery last summer.

However, Cooper’s versatility and wealth of knowledge of League One will be invaluable as Howe’s men prepare to pit their wits back in the third flight.

Cooper told the Daily Echo: “I am delighted to have signed. As I hardly played any games last season, it would have been difficult for me to find another club if I hadn’t been offered something here.

“Although I feel very fit, my fitness would have been in question to other clubs and it is only natural that other managers would have looked at that.

“The club has been good to me and it was decent of them to offer me something, especially considering the length of time I was out. I appreciate it and want to repay their faith by trying to perform well. I have got to prove I can stay fit and am confident there will not be any problems.”

Cooper went under the knife to cure his persistent hip injury 12 months ago and was a frustrated spectator for much of the season as Cherries secured runners-up spot in League Two.

“I’m just looking forward to pre-season and starting with a clean slate,” said the Isle of Wight-born utility man. “It’s not going to be easy winning a place in the team but I’m relishing the challenge.

“I played a handful of games last season and was conscious of not being the weak link. I didn’t want to be responsible for doing something which may have cost us getting over the line.

“It is going to be good to be starting on a level playing field with everybody else and fighting for a place in the team.

“Everybody knows the top half of League One is a very high standard. It’s going to be good and will bring out the best in our squad.

“I think we will get accustomed to it quickly and going up a level will also improve a lot of our players.

“I fully believe we will blossom in the league.

“It’s nice to play in games when more football is played but there are going to be scrappy and ugly games as well.

“You’ve got to do what it takes to win.

“We were a winning team last season and the place was buzzing. It has never been like that since I’ve been here and it was disappointing for me to have missed out.

“We have got to be realistic and find our feet in this division but I’m confident we can take the step up in our stride. I believe we can be in the top half.”