PLAYER PROFILE

Michael Chopra

Position: Forward

Height: 5'11

Weight: 11st 10lbs

Date of Birth: 1983-12-23 Newcastle, England

Michael Chopra

Michael Chopra was born in Newcastle in 1983. He signed with Newcastle United as a trainee in January 2002, but because of his limited first team opportunities he agreed to a loan to Watford towards the end of his first season.

The following campaign saw Chopra make six appearances for the Newcastle first team. He also went to Nottingham Forest in February 2004 on a month's loan, making five appearances for the Reds.

Another loan spell, this time at Barnsley, in 2004 saw him hitting the headlines as scored 17 goals in 39 games as was named the club's Player Of The Year. However, it took him until April 2006 to score his first Premiership goal for Newcastle, 10 seconds after coming off the bench against neighbours Sunderland.

A couple of months later though he was sold to Cardiff City for £500,000. He had an excellent 2006/07 season with the Bluebirds, scoring 22 goals and though he couldn't help them win promotion, he was soon back in the top flight as Sunderland boss Roy Keane signed him for £5m in July 2007.