Colin Cooper would love to keep Middlesbrough winger Ryan Brobbel at Hartlepool United

EXCITING PLAYER: Ryan Brobbel in action against AFC Wimbledon. Picture by FRANK REID

That’s according to his impressed Pools manager Colin Cooper.

The Hartlepool-born winger joined the club on the eve of the new Sky Bet League Two campaign on a month-long deal from neighbours Middlesbrough.

So far he has started against Port Vale in the Capital One Cup and Dagenham & Redbridge and Wimbledon in the league.

Cooper, a former Boro player and coach, knows the 21-year-old well and said the winger is “working hard” to establish a career in football.

His delivery from set-pieces caused problems against the Dons, when Pools came from a goal down to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Charlie Wyke and Marlon Harewood.

Brobbel was one of the star performers and provided the assist for Harewood’s winner, which secured the club’s first three points of the season.

Cooper insists he would love to extend Brobbel’s loan spell, which started on Friday, August 8, beyond the initial four weeks.

“Ryan is great,” Cooper told SportMail. “I like good footballers and he is one who is working hard for his footballing career.

“With the qualities that he has got, Ryan can stay as long as he wants. He gives everything and has that extra bit of quality that I like.

“The Wimbledon match wasn’t a day for pretty football but he put his body on the line and some of his deliveries from set-pieces were absolutely outstanding.

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“He would probably like to be a bit more involved centrally, where he can affect games more.

“But at the moment he is doing a smashing shift for me.”

Brobbel, who is comfortable playing on either wing, is hoping to use his spell at Victoria Park to show Aitor Karanka that he is worthy of a shot in the Boro side.

The winger has come through the ranks at Middlesbrough and turned professional in 2011 after impressing the hierarchy during his spell in the Academy.

He gained senior experience last season when he made 21 appearances and scored four goals during two impressive loan stints with League Two rivals York City.