THERE’S no bigger advocate in the loan system than Colin Cooper. Equally, the Hartlepool United boss is a huge believer in giving young players a chance to develop in the Football League.

Having stepped up from a role as Middlesbrough’s Under-18 coach to Pools boss, Cooper is keen for footballers to follow him.

Last season, Christian Burgess, Matty Dolan and Luke Williams gained experience at Pools after moving on loan from Boro.

He also landed Scott Harrison and Conor Oliver from Sunderland, as well as Jack Barmby from Manchester United.

They all returned to their parent clubs better for their experience and, as Pools go to Northampton this evening, Harrison will be part of the back four.

A trainee with Darlington in their Conference days, he followed his former manager and coach Craig Liddle to Sunderland.

Being realistic, and a chance in the first team at the Stadium of Light is currently beyond him. Spend a few months at Victoria Park in League Two and he will soon know if he is capable of the step up.

"Scott is as honest as the day is long but has a real ability as well and is a tough lad that really wants to be here,’’ said Cooper of the 21-year-old.

"He wants to do well and wants to be a professional footballer.

"He is a Sunderland player, but if he wasn't going to break through for their Under 21s to somewhere else he was really keen to come back. For me, that is music to my ears.

"He wants to work hard and the two lads that work with him up at Sunderland, I know inside out.

"They were also keen that it benefits his career to be doing what he is doing for us, rather than playing Under 21 football. If that remains then great but he is a Sunderland player."

Cooper will also field Ryan Brobbel and Charlie Wyke at Sixfields this evening, the pair on loan from Boro.

Both have impressed in the early stages of their temporary stints, with Brobbel last week extending his for a further month.

And Cooper is more than happy to help the prospects find their way in the game.

"They all set out with a goal of playing for their football club,’’ said Cooper. "If I am Scott Harrison, then my goal is to play for Sunderland. If I am Charlie Wyke or Ryan Brobbel then my goal is to play for Middlesbrough.

"If that doesn't quite happen then there is a different pathway they might need to go down.

"All I am doing is giving them an opportunity to play league football. They can play at this level, have the technicality and the physicality to do so.’’

Harrison impressed at the weekend and Pools have not conceded in the last two games when he’s started alongside Matthew Bates.

They have formed a quick and solid understanding, and Cooper said: "Scott will head a fridge - no two ways about that.

"And that is proper heading, you don't see people head the ball that way anymore.

"For a 21-year-old he should be overjoyed he has that ability because it isn't in football anymore, in my opinion.

"He has good feet and can pass the ball and is calm at certain times but it is also about making good decisions at centre half.

"What you see with Matthew Bates is very different, he is very calm and never gets flustered.

"He sometimes flusters me but doesn't fluster himself and knows where he is.

"They have a nice little relationship and on the back of that we have Sam [Collins] in the background who helps and talks.

"Scott doesn't have a bad group of people helping him, both here and at Sunderland."

Harrison needs only to look at Christian Burgess to see what can happen. Not given an opening at Boro, he spent last season on loan at Pools, returning to Boro before moving to Peterborough on a permanent deal last month.

It was down to his campaign at Victoria Park that he moved to Posh, where he plays alongside Jack Baldwin, a £500,000 signing from Pools in January.

"Christian came into football a bit later on but to get 45 games in league football has given him a value in football,’’ reflected Cooper.

"As a young development player at Middlesbrough he didn't have a value, having played at Hartlepool and shown he can compete gives him that value.

"Middlesbrough cashed in on that value now, which is great, whatever the price he is worth every penny.

"Christian and Jack Baldwin - I'm looking at Peterborough and Darren Ferguson thinking you have had it off having them two as your centre halves.

"For me, they are more than capable of going higher - both of them.

"They will make mistakes. Fact. And Scott will make mistakes, but you can be happy for them to make mistakes knowing they are trying to do the right things and develop.

"That is why the loan system, in my opinion, is a valuable system for young players.’’

Cooper made his bow for Boro as a raw 17-year-old, and it was 22 years later his playing days ended.

And it’s the experience he gained at Ayresome Park which set him off on the right track.

With Burgess, Baldwin, Harrison and Luke James, he sees the same potential.

"I was talking to Rob Edwards (Tranmere boss) and we said going back all those years, we made our debuts aged 17 or 18 and by 21 probably played 50, 60, 100 games,’’ said Cooper, who should have Stuart Parnaby back in his squad tonight.

"That doesn't happen anymore in the Championship or the Premiership.

“They are getting their league experience here, which gives them a value in football. For us Jack Baldwin has a value and we benefit, Luke James had a value.

"Christian, who we helped develop, had a value to Middlesbrough and Peterborough are very strong on that.

"I am very happy that Scott has decided to come back and it isn't like I didn't try to bring Christian back. He had delusions of grandeur! But in all fairness I have seen him play for Peterborough and is playing ever so well.

"They are good young players and their respective football clubs should be very proud, to have played a part in where they end up.

"We should be very proud of these players, whether Peterborough get promoted or not I can see Jack, Luke and Christian playing Championship football, if not Premier League football at some point."