Quade Cooper has received a glowing endorsement from new Wallabies coach Michael Cheika as the returning playmaker looks to capitalise on Kurtley Beale's absence from the European tour.

Cheika has long admired Cooper from afar and is excited to get a closer look, indicating the 26-year-old will make his long-awaited return to action in next weekend's match against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Quade Cooper was not used in the third Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand. Credit:Getty Images

The coach has also signalled a return for the previously out-of-favour Will Genia in the tour opener and says Test spots will be up for grabs in his first match in charge of the Wallabies.

Cooper recently returned from a lengthly layoff with shoulder and hip injuries but was an unused substitute in the one-point defeat to the All Blacks, which proved Ewen McKenzie's final game at the helm.