Town boss Paul Jewell was delighted to see new striker Michael Chopra net his first two goals for the club as the Blues beat FC Eindhoven 2-0 in the opening game of their pre-season campaign.

Jewell said: “It’s nice for a striker when he comes to a new club to get off to a good start. Even though it was a pre-season friendly, it was always handy for him to get a goal and it was nice for him to get two.

“He looks like he’s always going to score, he’s a top quality striker and we’ve pleased to have him here.

“The first thing he did when he came on in the second half was try to score, so he looks like he’s got goals in him.”

The Town manager says wins aren’t the most significant aspect of games such as today’s: “Pre-season is all about fitness. The most important at this stage isn’t the result, but having said that we want to breed that winning mentality.

“We got better as the game wore on and it was good to see Chops get a couple of goals. The second one was a terrific move and on the first one he showed his pace and his quality when he gets in front of goal — you think he’s going to score.”

Central defender Ívar Ingimarsson and right-back Carlos Edwards missed out with what Jewell says are minor niggles: “Ívar’s got a thigh strain that he picked up in training on Friday and Carlos picked up a hip strain yesterday in training. I guess if today had been a league game Carlos would have been available.”

Town’s next match is against another Dutch Eerste Divisie side Den Bosch on Thursday evening (KO 7pm).

Photo: Action Images

BlueWalloo added 17:06 - Jul 12 Chops Away!!
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pazelle added 17:07 - Jul 12 Good stuff, good to win, Priskin + Chopra = SUPERB
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jas0999 added 17:13 - Jul 12 Good result and great to see Chopra scoring. Interesting that if had have been a league game Ívar Ingimarsson would not have played. Got to be concerns already over his injury situation?
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hogster1970 added 17:18 - Jul 12 well done chops and yes as pazzelle says i feel that priskin and chops should be our starting pair for the season and give them a good 6-7 games starting together, and hopefully they can bang a few in as i feel priskin is good for brings chops into the game and visa a versa
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decITFC1878 added 17:19 - Jul 12 Chopra's better than everybody
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itfc1981 added 17:26 - Jul 12 Hip strain?
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fourth added 17:51 - Jul 12 Very interesting indeed PJ is, I think subtle enough and persuasive enough to develop the team. He is a character that can PERSUADE. IQ of some 130 against the Irsish 98. Oh that is SO unfair. But so essential. We are in for persuasive, intelligent management. Good Lord!
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Dolly2.0 added 18:07 - Jul 12 Hips don't lie, apparently.
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TractorCam added 18:21 - Jul 12 Did Bowyer play?
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ITFC4daprem added 18:30 - Jul 12 keep it up yes he played
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Tractamatt added 18:33 - Jul 12 If priskin is the possible answer to chops striking partner why spend on another striker when the money could be used to buy loach,We could be let down in the keeper department.
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Garv added 18:41 - Jul 12 Really think it would be pointless to splash out on another keeper, unless it was a young backup. Fulop is very good at this level.
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Tractamatt added 19:04 - Jul 12 Garv I understand your reasoning but loach would be one for the future where as the jury is still out about fulop, Also my point was really if we dont need another striker as a matter of priority then why buy one if not a keeper how about putting the money towards a better right back than we might get otherwise or any other position.
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EmilyJones added 19:23 - Jul 12 Dont agree with those saying about Chopra/priskin combo, people have short memories of how poor he was last season. If we have to start with Priskin we may as well forget it.
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jas0999 added 19:26 - Jul 12 EmilyJones- sadly I agree. Priskin did well in a couple of big matches, but on the whole has not scored anywhere near enough goals - and was as you say very poor at times. Being sent out on loan suggests he is not in PJ's thoughts either.
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EmilyJones added 19:32 - Jul 12 Your right jas0999, I cant believe for one minute PJ is even thinking of pairing Priskin with Chops as first choice strikeforce. We really need a target man not another small striker and even though priskin did have a few good games my general opinion is he is not good enough for a team gunning for the top end of the championship.
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BehindBlueEyes added 20:59 - Jul 12 Thought Priskin was poor in the first half and didn't get a run out with Chops. On todays showing I wouldn't be surprised if he'll be the makeweight in a move back to Watford...
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robdaful added 21:42 - Jul 12 Well done Chopra.
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footyblue added 02:05 - Jul 13 Priskin ia s good player and he got 8 MOM in a row on hear last season so some people think he is ok
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DiamondGezzer added 06:23 - Jul 13 Both Priskin and Scotland could do with going to Specsavers when you add up their one on one misses from last season. Sorry, but I think ' Chops ' is going to show both of them what its like to be a striker. If either or both stay, I hope they both prove me totally wrong.
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loobz66 added 12:29 - Jul 13 Cant wait to see Chopra at Portman Road!
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