Michael Chopra

By The Black Cats
December 30 2008

New Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will not extend Chopra's loan spell at Bluebirds Cardiff City when it expires tomorrow. Chopra, who has been on loan to Cardiff since November, will return to the Stadium of Light in the january transfer window. This Season Chopra has scored 5 goals in 11 appearances for the Bluebirds.

New Gaffer Ricky Sbragia has also recalled young Northern Ireland International 'keeper Trevor Carson.

Carson, who has been on loan at Chesterfield will return in the January transfer window and will provide cover for Marton Fulop who has been outstanding while filling in for Craig Gordon while he has been out through injury.

Sbragia is reviewing the situation of the other players Sunderland have out on loan - Arnau, Greg Halford, Graham Kavanagh, Michael Liddle, Roy O'Donovan, Paul McShane, Anthony Stokes, Martyn Waghorn and Ross Wallace

So just who is Micahel chopra?

Michael Chopra joined Cardiff City on loan for two months in November 2008.

The striker was allowed to rejoin the Bluebirds until the end of December after he scored two goals in five games for the Black Cats.

Chopra joined the Black Cats from Cardiff in July 2007 after scoring 22 goals from 42 games for the Welshman.

The Newcastle-born striker, who began his career with his hometown club before joining the Welsh club, scored six league goals from 33 games for the Black Cats.

But five of those goals were gold dust for Roy Keane, helping Sunderland to get points over Tottenham at home, Birmingham away, Aston Villa away, Fulham away and Middlesbrough at home.

He also played a lot of games out of position in 2007-08, covering for the injured Carlos Edwards on the right wing.

Chopra finished Championship top scorer for Cardiff in 2006-07 with 22 goals from 42 games before signing a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats agreed a fee with Cardiff that could rise to £5m depending on appearances and team performance.

Chopra took the Championship by storm in 2006-07, finishing just one goal behind Colchester’s Jamie Cureton in the scoring charts as Cardiff spent the majority of the first half of the year at the top of the table.

The former England youth and Under-21s international joined the Bluebirds in 2006 after beginning his career with his hometown club as a youngster, signing pro forms in 2000. He played a total of 31 league and cup games for Newcastle, scoring three goals.

Chopra also had loan spells with Watford in 2003, scoring five goals from six games in the Championship, and Nottingham Forest in 2004.

He spent all of the 2004-05 campaign on loan with Barnsley in League Two, where he scored 17 goals in 42 league and cup games.