Chopra interested in Norwich...

[Huckerbys right foot]

Newcastle United's forgotten man Michael Chopra has admitted he could be interested in a move to Norwich City.

Chopra is currently on loan at Coca Cola League One side Barnsley, but had always hoped to return to St James's Park once he had gained a season's worth of regular first team football.

But the young striker has virtually resigned himself to the fact that his dream of leading the line for his hometown club is over.

As a result, the former Gosforth High School prospect has suggested he is interested in finding another club, with Norwich already expressing an interest in his services.

Canaries manager Nigel Worthington is keen to pair Chopra with Dean Ashton - a club record £3m buy from Crewe Alexandra last week - as the two formed a potent partnership for England at youth level. "Barnsley has been great for me in terms of getting first team football, but I believe I can play at a much higher level," said Chopra, who has made just one start for Newcastle despite once being talked about as the natural successor to Alan Shearer.

"If Newcastle don't want me back then I will be happy to go to another Premiership club or one of the better Championship sides."

Chopra, who has scored 11 goals in 23 league appearances at Oakwell, despite often playing on the right wing, was adamant when he agreed to go on loan that he intended to return to United at the end of the season.

But the 21-year-old now admits he is unlikely to get the first team football he craves under Graeme Souness. There is no doubt it has been a harsh reality check for Chopra, especially when he was not recalled over the festive period, despite the fact Souness had injury concerns over Craig Bellamy, Patrick Kluivert and Alan Shearer.

The Magpies manager has since insisted he was unable to terminate Chopra's loan deal with Barnsley, but the player still felt rejected.

He said: "I have a lot of faith in my own ability, but it was disappointing when I read all about the injury problems Newcastle had with their strikers and they hadn't even tried to bring me back.

"Graeme Souness said he doesn't think he can release me, but I would have loved to have come back. I wanted the opportunity to show I can perform at that level.

"When Alan Shearer, Patrick Kluivert and Craig Bellamy were all out with injuries, and I wasn't recalled, it was frustrating because it would have been the opportunity I've waited for."

Chopra still has 18 months left to run on his contract at Newcastle, but that will not deter Norwich, who are already making contingency plans should they be relegated from the Premiership in May

Source: icNewcastle

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all seems good news but will he be good enough to knock Leon to the bench? ..... if we do get him then Svensson has virtually signed and sealed his move to Sweden

[alexgreg96]

if Svennson goes then I can see us buying him - apparently he will cost £500,000

[Mat]

He's an extremely talented goalscorer, should have been given much more of a chance at us considering he has been our big prospect for the past 8 years and never got a sustained run in the first team. He's guaranteed to score goals imo. Would be a good sogning but i still wish that he has one more go for us under souness.

[Worthy_is_King]

like your sig hucks

back on topic, i'm not sure he's consistent enough, but maybe that will come.
Look at his record in the lower leagues, he's scored 11 in 23 at Barnsley. not bad, but i think he's scored 3 hattricks. leaving 2 in 20 for the rest of the season.
Likewise at watford when he scored 4 against burnley, and 3 in 10 or something like that for the rest of the period.

wonder what mr evil thinks of him though?

[mr.watford]

He was good for us, scored 5 in 5, 4 against burnley and a wonderful goal against Derby...but he was awful in the FA Cup semi

[Mat]

I thought he didnt play in the fa cup, he was dropped even tho he scored 4 the week before.

[mr.watford]

nope, he started. the main reason tommy smith left us was because he was dropped for a loanee after scoring the winner in the last two rounds