TOWN boss Mark Cooper has backed departing winger Luke Rooney to revive his stuttering career away from the County Ground.

The 22-year-old returned from an unsuccessful loan spell at Crawley a fortnight ago and the Advertiser now understands an agreement has been reached to pay up the remainder of his contract.

Rooney joined from Gillingham in January 2012 and despite exciting the Wiltshire crowd early in his Town career was later frozen out by former boss Paolo Di Canio, but Cooper was impressed with what he saw from the youngster and believes a change of scene may do him the world of good.

“When I came to the club he was part of the squad and had brilliant ability but was maybe just a bit disillusioned with the previous regime,” Cooper said. “He was totally ostracised under that.

“He came back into the fold with me and Kevin (MacDonald) and showed glimpses of the ability which made the football club pay what they did for him.

“I think that really knocked him back, the way he was treated. Once you lose that momentum it’s difficult to then get it back but I’m sure that if he wants to get it back and push himself then he can make a career out of the game.

“He’s a typical old fashioned winger who can make people look silly and put them on their backside and he was never a minute’s trouble when he was here and I sincerely hope he goes on and makes a career for himself out of the game.”

Meanwhile, Town will play the second leg of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Area Final against Peterborough at home.

The Robins beat Stevenage 3-1 on penalties on Tuesday night to progress to the two-legged final, and will travel to London Road for the first leg week beginning February 3.

The second leg will be at the County Ground during the week commencing February 17.

Fleetwood play Chesterfield in the Northern Area Final.