Former Tranmere striker Andy Cook has returned to Prenton Park on loan from Mansfield Town until the end of the season for an undisclosed fee.

Cook, who scored 49 goals in 85 appearances during his first spell at Rovers, where he played a pivotal role in helping the Club earn promotion back to the EFL in 2018, is now back on the Wirral and in a white shirt.

He reunites with manager Micky Mellon and becomes the sixth January arrival following on from the signings of Peter Clarke, Alex Woodyard, James Vaughan, Luke McCullough and Morgan Feeney.

Bishop Auckland-born Cook, 29, will bolster Rovers’ attacking options in the second half of the Sky Bet League One campaign.

He is eligible to make his second Tranmere debut in next Tuesday night’s home game against Doncaster Rovers in front of the SWA.

On returning to Rovers, Cook said: “I’m buzzing to be back. As soon as I found out about the interest, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

 “I’m relieved and I can’t wait to get back playing at Tranmere and hopefully do what I did the last time I was there.

“The fans were good to me, everyone was good to me, so it was a no brainer to come back.

“I had an unbelievable time here and I don’t think I could have let this opportunity go. I’m so happy I’ve sorted it."

Reacting to the loan move, Mellon added: “It’s terrific to have a player back that we know very well, and we know what he is capable of.

 “We all know that he loves Tranmere and the opportunity came to get him back, so I’m really pleased he’s in the door and now we’ll have different attacking options that we probably need.

“It should really strengthen the group and add to the threat at the top end of the pitch.

“He is a different attacking option and when you put the ball in the box, you know what a threat he is, and he knows where the goal is.

“It’s a great signing for ourselves as coaching staff, but it also gives the fans a lift as he’s a player they all know and are very fond of, so it is an all round good signing for us and we’re looking forward to getting him back on the pitch representing Tranmere.”