Joel Cooper scored his 50th career goal for Linfield in today’s Premiership game against Loughgall at Windsor Park.

Joel signed for Linfield from Glenavon on a three-year contract at the beginning of the 2018-19 season.

He made his Linfield debut in a 1-0 league win away to Glenavon on August 4, 2018 and his first Linfield goal came in a 3-0 home win against Institute on August 10, 2018.

He agreed a deal to sign for Oxford United on a three-year contract at the start of the 2020-21 season but he re-joined Linfield on loan in January 2021 until the end of the season.

His first game in his second spell at the club came as a sub in a 4-3 league defeat at Solitude on January 26, 2021.

During this loan spell, Joel scored in the 2-1 Irish Cup final win against Larne at Mourneview Park in May 2021.

He rejoined Oxford on the expiry of his loan spell in the summer of 2021 but spent the latter half of the 2021-22 season on loan at Port Vale.

He agreed to rejoin Linfield on a three year contract on the opening of the transfer window in June 2022.

He made his debut (in his third spell at the club) in a 1-0 UEFA Champions League first round, first leg defeat away to the New Saints on July 5, 2022.

His first goal in his third spell at the club was in a 2-2 draw away to RFS of Latvia in the Conference League on August 18, 2022.

His full Linfield statistical record is as follows.

2018/19 – 39 appearances (3 as sub) – 8 goals

2019/20 – 42 appearances (2 as sub) – 13 goals

2020/21 – 25 appearances (3 as sub) – 5 goals

2021/22 – with Oxford and on loan at Port Vale

2022/23 – 49 appearances (5 as sub) – 17 goals

2023/24 – 19 appearances – 7 goals

Total – 174 appearances (13 as sub) – 50 goals