Steve Cooper has admitted he's spoken with Jonjo Shelvey and Chris Wood to try and get an advantage over Newcastle United this weekend. The two former Magpies made the move to the City Ground, hoping to keep Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
The duo played a key par in Eddie Howe's Toon resurgence last year, but made the move to Nottingham in the recent January transfer window. Both players are still highly thought of at St. James' Park and although they may have an insight into both camps, Cooper isn't letting that be the sole factor for any game plans this weekend.
When asked if he'd leant on Shelvey and Wood for some insight, Cooper said: "Yeah, of course it's a normal thing to do, at the same time all teams look at each other now and you can get so much footage and analysis and data that you can put extensive plans together on what you think the opponent might be. At the same time, you've got to go an play your own game and be yourself as well which is always our main focus.
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"I think Newcastle have been excellent. We obviously played them in our first game and they beat us there, started well and they've kept that going, hence getting to the cup final and positive league position etc.
"There's obvious qualities and strengths that they have. A lot of respect for the manager and the coaching team and it's a game that's going to be a tough one.
"But they all are and I could give you the same answer to every single game that we play in the Premier League. Respect the opponent but focus on ourselves, certain aspects of our game we have to do a lot better than we did last week.
"Against Spurs, it was clear that we fell short in certain areas. That's really where I'm focussed - being a better version of us in some parts of the game because the last few games we've not been able to put a whole performance together, we've just had spells that have cost us and then spells where we've looked quite good.
"That's not enough at this level it needs to be 100 per cent all the way through so that's where our work is."
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