TYREIK Wright hailed Andy Cook’s aerial power and confessed: I don’t know how he does it.

Cook is on the trail of another former club today as City go to Tranmere – where he has scored three goals in his last two visits.

The City dressing room is still talking about the striker’s stunning header in the win over Newport that has galvanised the group after the recent dip in form.

“He’s the best header of a ball I have ever seen,” admitted Wright.

“The neck muscles that he has … if the ball is in the air, nine times out of 10, he’s going to put it in the back of the net.”

Graham Alexander believes that heading with such force has become a dying art. The City boss was just as amazed by the finish after seeing it again.

 

 

“There was probably one of Cooky in every team 20 years ago, not as prolific but certainly someone who could head the ball just as well,” he said.

“I believe it is going a little bit out the game. People like Cooky are worth their weight in gold.

“It was an unbelievable header. I didn’t realise until I saw the footage after the game.

“There was one angle where he’s basically taken his neck off!

“It’s unbelievable how he not just gets the header in that direction but the power on it and the accuracy.

“It was probably the harder one. He had an easier one before that which Jay (Benn) put on when he was facing the goal.

“But we know what Cooky can do and he deserves it.”

Cook is confident he can rekindle the form which saw him land the League Two golden boot two seasons ago when City reached the play-offs.

Wright is certainly backing him to keep producing the goods after the 33-year-old’s 77th goal for the club left him just two away from the all-time top five at Valley Parade.

“I can see him getting 20-plus goals again this season, to be honest. Once we put it in the right areas for him, hopefully he can finish them.

“He was born to score goals. He’s always in the right areas and always a handful for the defenders as well.”

Graham Alexander gives advice to Tyreik Wright in Monday's gameGraham Alexander gives advice to Tyreik Wright in Monday's game (Image: PA)

Wright saw plenty of the ball himself in Monday’s win and Alexander called it his best display of the season.

The left wing-back added: “I don’t feel like I have been performing to the standard that I set myself.

“But I don’t get down about it or anything, I put it behind me and move onto the next game. You are only as good as your last performance.

“Before, I used to put too much pressure on myself. Now, I don’t stress myself out about my performances. I just leave them in the past and move onto the next.

“I think it helped when the opposition plays a back four as they are more compact and the right-back was staying inside. I think he was a natural centre-back anyway.

“It helped me get on the ball a lot more, he was trying to get too close and I enjoyed it.”