For one sci-fi universe, Murphy Cooper is saviour of the world. In our universe, we just want him to be able to save goals. Of course, the two people are not the same. The first person we mentioned is a fictional character in a 2014 blockbuster. But the Murphy Cooper we care about is a young goalkeeper who signed for us on loan in summer 2024. It’s also hugely unlikely the other two have been confused. So, what could we expect from a QPR stopper who’d likely be spending a lot of his time as understudy to Taye Ashby-Hammond?

First observations from our pre-season glimpse of Cooper is that he isn’t the tallest goalkeeper in the world. But that’s a moot point if you’re good enough to stop a football hitting the back of the net. He certainly didn’t come to us lacking the experience of first team action either; most recently turning out in League Two for Swindon Town. There was barely time for him to get settled here either. He signed on the Friday and played against Chelsea U23 on the Saturday. “I found out late on [Friday] and then I came straight here, hadn’t met any of the lads but they helped me settle in,” he revealed.

Murphy Cooper: Before Boro’

The time Cooper spent on loan at the County Ground during the 2023-4 season wasn’t his first temporary assignment. It was also cut short due to injury, by the way. Before that, he enjoyed three other loan spells as he became accustomed to senior football; all of which were in non-league circles. It’s not as if chances hadn’t come his way at Loftus Road either. In 2022, he made his first team bow for the Rs and subsequently signed a new deal at the club.