Jake Cooper is set for his 100th consecutive Millwall game – and he has played EVERY minute

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Jake Cooper is set to make his 100th consecutive Millwall appearance on Boxing Day at Millwall – and he has played every minute in the 99 matches on that run.

The Lions centre-back has not missed a fixture since November 4 2017.

Millwall manager Gary Rowett said: “It is really impressive.

“Let’s hope after last week [when Murray Wallace and Alex Pearce both dropped out of the Barnsley match due to illness] that he doesn’t trip over a Christmas bauble and rule himself out of the game, such has been out luck.

“He is a player we’ve seen an awful lot of in his younger years at Reading and you just felt he needed to have that consistency at that point. But as he got the games he has looked better and better every year at Millwall.

“He is not just a reliable performer – that does him a little bit of an injustice. He is a centre-half who can become even more of a leader. He’s already been very influential for Millwall. He is a left-footed centre-half, a good size and a good set-piece threat.

“I’ve been really impressed with him and he can handle the ball at his feet.”

Lions club captain Alex Pearce said: “Coops is a very robust player.

“He doesn’t pick up many injuries and that’s credit to him – to be in the form to play that many consecutive games for the club, for any club, is a fantastic achievement.

“It’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially in this league where it is sometimes three games in a week.

“You’ve got to look after you body – what you do off the pitch – and play well on it. If and when he does get to that milestone he will deserve every bit of credit for that.”