Town boss Paul Jewell has defended his decision to bring striker Michael Chopra to the club in the summer with the 28-year-old currently out of form and having spent time in the Sporting Chance Clinic recovering from his gambling addiction earlier in the campaign. Chopra, who it was revealed in a recent court case has been lent £250,000 by the club, joined the Blues from Cardiff City for £1 million in the close season.

Jewell admits the extent of Chopra’s personal problems weren’t known when he signed and says these have affected his performances: “I wasn’t aware of the severity of his problems, I don’t think anybody was.

“We all knew he had the problem [with gambling] but not how deep-rooted it was. But we’ve dealt with that, we’re trying to help the lad through a difficult time in his life.

“After the first game against Bristol City no one was asking about doing our homework on Michael Chopra, but he’s suffered on the pitch and obviously his problems off the pitch have compounded that.”

But Jewell backs the former Newcastle and Sunderland man, who has scored seven goals in 22 starts and four sub appearances for Town, to get back to the top of his game soon: “Chops is a bit low on confidence, which is why he hasn’t been in the team of late. He’s going through a spell in his career. We all go through it, he’ll get through it and come out of it on the other side.

“He’s not the only one, but certainly as a striker confidence is a huge thing and at the moment he’s not playing with a lot of confidence, but that will come back.

“The most important thing for him is football,” he added. “We have given him help, the club have been there for him and have done an awful lot for him. It’s been documented that he’s been into the clinic, but we don’t want to harp on about it.

“It’s an ongoing situation for someone who has an illness like that. Every day is a battle and one of the ways to help him will be for him to start scoring goals. At the minute he’s not, but I’m sure he’ll get there.”

Photo: Action Images

itfc1981 added 08:38 - Jan 13 Another Jewell mistake. Are we intrested in David James yet?
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Stato added 08:38 - Jan 13 Ellington needs explaining far more than Chopra !!
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punch_bowl added 08:42 - Jan 13 Chopra is a class player playing in front of a clueless midfield, give him time he will come good
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singtown added 08:43 - Jan 13 Not sure if you've done ur homework PJ, seems there are a lot of things u don't know and ended up as mistakes now so how many more mysteries do u owe the fans? League 1 football next season should not come as surprise to us anymore if results don't improve soon Hope u have answers for that quickly
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The_suffolk_punch added 08:46 - Jan 13 Too Right Boss Man. It's the loan deals (plaster on a broken leg), ellington and Murphy you should be apologising for!
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roytheboy added 08:50 - Jan 13 Most of us were very happy to have Chopra at the club, admittedly we were not aware of his problems, he was signed in good faith I believe, I too am very dismayed by his terrible form of late, however the talent is there and I'm confident it will start to show again eventually, especially if he gets adequate support and encouragement, particularly from us the supporters, we should not kick a man when he is down !

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pickles110564 added 09:05 - Jan 13 Another gamble that has so far failed to pay off! ;0)
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Marshalls_Mullet added 09:08 - Jan 13 Good player poor team. Confidence? get a grip and be professional. PJ stop being a nob and saying no one was complaining after the Bristol match. We were blisfully unaware of the extent of his chronic gambling addiction.
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DunstableBlue added 09:13 - Jan 13 i have never known our club be in such a state, god help us where are we going..
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blueherts added 09:17 - Jan 13 Whats more important Football or the Mental well being of a player - Football is not , as someone famously said , Life or Death , Chopra is/was Sick with an addiction . Would we have signed an alcoholic or drug abuser . he needed help last year , probably before we signed him . It did strike me that £1m was a great deal for a player of his quality . Wish him all the best and I am sure he will come good . As for Ellington , Murphy - BAD SIGNINGS

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JewellintheTown added 09:18 - Jan 13 Maybe we should sign a fortune teller for a manager who can predict every definite outcome in life. Oh, wait, they'd already know we have a bunch of negative fans who get on everyones backs at the first sign (often way before) of any problems. Why would anyone sign for ITFC with such glass half-empty attitude fans? Man (or woman ;) ) up people!
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Surco72 added 09:19 - Jan 13 Chopra is a good signing for £1million and is only 28 he has already out scored our previous big striker summer signings over the last 4 seasons Stead,Lisbie,Priskin,Scotland . Give him time after his issues and he will come back especially when the team has more confidence as a whole ,and all the same people saying what a poor signing he is now will be saying what a great signing he was ,same as they did with Mac,Norris and Bullard when he signed on loan ,

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brittaniaman added 09:25 - Jan 13 WELL JEWELLIO tomorrow has got to be A WIN WIN, no ifs or butts !!!!!!! Because I imagine if we do lose I expect you will still be here next week ?? IT IS the US FANS who are suffering most, Chopra needs to score !!!!! Carrot road must be laughing there heads off at us and our escapades !!!!!!!!
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MattinLondon added 09:46 - Jan 13 Obviously cardiff knew how problematic his gambling addiction was ire they wouldn't of sold him for that amount. He, like Carson and cresswell are good players. All the other regulars are awful.
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MattinLondon added 09:47 - Jan 13 Obviously cardiff knew how problematic his gambling addiction was ire they wouldn't of sold him for that amount. He, like Carson and cresswell are good players. All the other regulars are awful.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 10:00 - Jan 13 ditto the dwarf centre half we have just dumped “After the first game against Bristol City no one was asking about doing our homework
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DurhamTownFan added 10:14 - Jan 13 So you boost his confidence by leaving Chopra on the bench or the past few games...that doesn't make sense!
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DiamondGezzer added 10:26 - Jan 13 Roytheboy :- Well said. Agree.The more people talk about him not scoring the more pressure he is likely to be under and the harder it will be for him to re-gain his form.
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StowTractorBoy added 10:27 - Jan 13 N o one was moaning when we signed Ingi and Chopra and at Bristol were both superb as was Ingi in the Wolves friendly. I was chuffed as were the majority of others when we signed them now they are a mistake. All new signings are a gamble sadly these did not come off (yet in the case of Chopra). It is easy to wise after the event.
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NorseBlue added 10:38 - Jan 13 Agree with BossMan and Surco72 - Chopra has scored 7 goals this season already. Is that a terrible signing? Ellington - no goals, can't hold up the ball, constantly runs off-side, doesn't create space - THAT signing needs explaining AND why Jewell constantly brings him on after 70 mins in a game, no matter how we've played. At Birmingham, Ellington comes on before Chopra - Why? Goals - 0v7!

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righty added 10:49 - Jan 13 I cannot understand anyone supporting a manager who has signed 3 goalkeepers 2 on ridiculus loans and another who hasnt a a club for ages just shows how good he is. Played a right winger at fullback for nearly a year when it has been clear we needed a real fullback. signed Sonko who has a big heart but cant use either foot and has cost us alot of recently and his age. Another CB on loan for a few months another who walks away after 4 months. A 34 CM player who is well past his best,Bullard who just wanted to get away from Hull he has done nothing this season although in his defence I would say he has been played out of position (Jewells fault). Made no attemp to keep K Andrews after being leading goalscorer,A cast off in Thomas who has done nothing yet. Ellington, Murphy (loan)were signed and done nothing and of course Chopra no need to say anything about him. Of course theres the great loan player Wabara what a difference he made. People say give him time hes had a year how much time does he want no player wants to come to the club only on loan hes a disaster JEWELL OUT and take CLEGG with him.

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Jesney_Havoc added 10:57 - Jan 13 Whatever next ? ! Just stay up this year ffs. Lack of contract renewals smacks of the pre-Keen sacking. New management face as soon as we are safe and another new team for next year... Where will it all end ?
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brian_a_mul added 11:04 - Jan 13 Nobody has given the club credit for their handling of the Chopra situation. The club have been a marvelous support to the lad in helping him overcome his addiction problem. When he gets back on track you can be sure Chops will be highly motivated to thank the club for their support. I feel proud that the club actually care about their players. Dont forget the club have also been a great support to Bullard during his tough time. Well done ITFC mgmt and Marcus Evans.

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Keaneish added 11:41 - Jan 13 Nothing to explain here, the mans a class act. Still a good signing and will be even better.
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Guthrum added 11:58 - Jan 13 Chopra is suffering at the moment, but he clearly has a large amount of natural ability. These kind of thinkgs can strike anybody (as was shown in Flintoff's programme the other night: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b019gbpk/Freddie_Flintoff_Hidden_Side_of_Sp ). However, as I said, he is very talented, as his previous record shows, he's also still quite young. Once he's recovered his health, with the club's help and support, I'm sure it will turn out we've got ourselves an excellent player for a bargain fee.

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