Millwall will be ready for a congested fixture schedule when the Championship resumes says defender Jake Cooper.

With the English Football League suspending the Championship until April 30 at the earliest due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a fixture pile-up is expected.

Although the EFL have suggested the league will over-run it’s scheduled time frame, the prospect of playing a game every three days is not unimaginable, and a scenario the 25-year-old Lion will be prepared for.

"If we have to play games thick and fast and we have to hammer them out to finish the season then so be it,” he told millwallfc.co.uk.

“Everyone just wants to get back playing and I'm sure everyone wants to get back to their normal lives.

“I haven't thought about the possible schedule on our return to football - just playing a single game would be nice at the moment!

“We have to be patient and make sure everyone is looked after.

“We all need to follow the government advice."

Before the league’s suspension, Millwall had manoeuvred themselves into a position whereby a play-off spot was within their grasp.

On the back of an impressive 3-0 away win at Nottingham Forest and with favourable fixtures against clubs in the lower half of the table scheduled, Cooper spoke of how important it was to maintain his fitness in order to be ready to hit the ground running, as and when the season re-starts.

“It's a difficult time for us as we're all set in a routine - not just us, but everyone in the country and around the world," he said.

"I've been managing my life without football, as I'm sure all supporters, coaches and managers are.

"We're all in the same boat. There's been communication with the Sports Science staff and they've set us a programme to follow in the next two weeks.”

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Having been an ever-present under Gary Rowett this season, the former Reading man spoke of his desire to keep up that record and how he feels his game has kicked on under the new manager.

"Maybe the break has come at a good time for me! I've missed enough games in my career through injuries at other clubs, and I hated missing them.

“Now, I'm going to make sure I'm out there all the time and do my best for the club and myself.”

"I'm really enjoying it under Gary and the staff he has brought in.

“Full credit to them, they changed our shape and we tried a few different things out.

“He hasn't been afraid to revert back to things either, such as the four at the back against Nottingham Forest that didn't serve us so well at the beginning of the season.

“We have confidence going to places now, we're a lot stronger.”

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Cooper’s form has seen a number of Premiership clubs including Aston Villa and Southampton register an interest in the left footed defender, and that’s despite netting just once this season compared to the seven he grabbed last term.  

"The goals haven't been there this season for me, and this break isn't great to dwell on things like that, but it's one of those things.

"Hutchy [Shaun Hutchinson] has stepped up and scored some goals this year and Matt Smith has scored a lot, so it's been a team effort - goals are coming from all over the place.

“I'm happy as long as the result is positive, but I'll try and add to that myself."

READ: Millwall postpone return to training