BRANDON Cooper has already proved a hit at the back for Newport County AFC but now the Swansea City defender wants to be a threat at the other end, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 20-year-old has formed a formidable central defensive partnership with Matty Dolan and Mickey Demetriou since heading east from the Liberty Stadium.

County sit on top of League Two thanks to their strong defensive record with four clean sheets and just six goals conceded in nine games, two of those at Cambridge when Cooper was on Wales Under-21s duty.

The bright prospect has made an immediate impact since joining from the Swans but now wants to have an impact from set pieces.

Cooper has been a threat from deliveries from Dolan and Scott Twine but is yet to get his name on the scoresheet.

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“It's coming soon! It's something that I've always looked at when growing up with Sergio Ramos and John Terry,” said the defender.

“It's something that I've always wanted to add to my game and I like being a threat going forward. Hopefully as soon as one goes in a lot more will follow because I've had chances already.”

Of course, defending comes first for Cooper his ease on the ball is a big plus for a County side that are looking to build from the back.

“The style is helping me, I've been brought up to play out from the back at Swansea,” he said.

“The style that we have implemented has helped the qualities of a lot of players in the team.

“That's not to say I don't like the defending side of the game - that's my main job - but the more ball we have, the more chances we will create.”

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Cooper is with County to learn from the rough and tumble of League Two football and he will be tested this afternoon by a Harrogate side who have started the season strongly after heading up from the National League.

The on-loan Swan faced them in Yorkshire last season when beaten 3-0, so there is little danger of complacency from the number 6.

“These are the tough experiences that I need. I played Harrogate last season when with Yeovil and they are a good outfit,” said Cooper.

“It was a hard game on a Tuesday night. They were direct and have a lot of energy and were ruthless. We will have a tough game because they have done well since coming up.”

Cooper is yet to taste league defeat as an Exile and they have taken 22 points from a possible 24 with him in the matchday squad to top the table.

“With the run that we are on it is a great place to be. It's a good environment and first is a great position to be in so early on but we are not going to get carried away,” he said.

“We have got good enough quality to be in this position and it's just a case of keeping it going because it doesn't matter where we are now, it matters where we are at the end of the season.”