Michael Chopra

By The Black Cats
January 8 2009

Michael Chopra is eager to add more derby goal to his tally having scoring twice against Middlesbrough earlier in the season at the Sunderland Stadium of Light. Chopra came off the bench to score two late goals in Sunderland's 2-0 win over Boro in September. The sides meet again this Saturday, at the Riverside Stadium in what promises to be a tense Tees-Wear derby.

Michael Chopra is eager to add more derby goals to his tally having scoring twice against Middlesbrough earlier in the season at the Sunderland Stadium of Light.

Chopra came off the bench to score two late goals in Sunderland's 2-0 win over Boro in September.

The sides meet again this Saturday, at the Riverside Stadium in what promises to be a tense Tees-Wear derby.

Chopra, who recently returned from a loan spell at Cardiff where he scored 5 goals for the Bluebirds, would love to get involved.

"I know how much these games mean to the fans and our last game against Boro was a great day for me," said the striker.

"It was good to get back into football again. The week before I'd been in rehab, just to sort my head out, so to be involved and to score two goals was fantastic.

"If I'm involved on Saturday, it would be my fourth derby of the season and I haven't lost one yet so hopefully that will continue."

Chopra got a taste of a South Wales derby when he was at Cardiff. "We played Swansea in November," he explained. "It was lively but it wasn't the same as a North-East derby because the crowd was not as big."

On his loan spell at Cardiff: "I enjoyed it and it was pleasing to get some goals," said Chopra.

"I got five down there and I got two goals in five games for Sunderland beforehand, so it reminded people that I can still score goals. I'm back now and raring to go."

Chopra arrived back at the Stadium of Light last week to find a new manager at the club following Roy Keane's resignation early last month.

"I was pleased to see Ricky get the job, we've already picked up some results under him and hopefully that can continue," said Chopra.