Defender Tommy Smith says top scorer Michael Chopra was given some light-hearted stick for his Newcastle night out with midfielder Jimmy Bullard which led to the pair being disciplined by the club.

Smith says Chopra, who netted his sixth goal in six games against Bristol City on Saturday, taking his season’s total to 13, was given some ribbing by his team-mates for the indiscretion: “Chops gets paid for scoring goals and as long as he does that and we are winning games, happy days.

“Chops got some grief, of course. Everyone gets banter whether you wear wrong gear or whatever, so it has all been light-hearted.

“The manager is dealing with it and as a group of players we just get on with it. It is a happy dressing room which comes from winning games.”

Smith himself was delighted to be involved — and to score his second goal of the season — having flown to New Zealand and back to star in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Jamaica in Auckland: "It's a 24,000-mile round trip but it was never going to stop me playing in this one.”

The 21-year-old’s current deal is up in the summer and he confirmed that he wants to remain at Portman Road: “I haven't spoken to the gaffer about a new contract but he knows I want to stay."

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Blue_Fred added 09:50 - Mar 5 how has this boy not got a contract yet?
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mwhitfc added 09:54 - Mar 5 He is actually proving that he has the ability to play at this level and potentially even higher! Very impressed with him lately :) Come on Jewell/Clegg, get his contract sorted out!
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 09:58 - Mar 5 Chops. Stick. excellent work.
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itfc1981 added 10:02 - Mar 5 Least we are on top of contracts again.
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Sindre94 added 10:04 - Mar 5 21 years of age, still? Well, hes one for the future, as long as he gets his pace up a bit, I think hell be a quality player, Great header!
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bluelady added 10:27 - Mar 5 has all the elements required to make it as a very decent CB... is good in the air, good with the ball at his feet, can pick out a pass and very good at scoring. his only let down is confidence and when it goes wrong from Tommy it goes wrong big style. Def worth a contract and i can see him (along side a new decent RCB) being a future town star. 100% better than Delaney in my eyes and not helped by Delaneys error prone style, which is equally why Sonko would not be good next to him. He needs calming reassurance from a Gareth Mc type player.

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JayITFC added 10:29 - Mar 5 One CB signing this summer with experience but of the right age (27 or 28) to partner Smith long-term would be a vital cog in the ITFC machine going forward IMO. Of course Tommy needs a 3 year deal signed and delivered as well!
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Wickets added 10:35 - Mar 5 Yes get his contract sorted before some greedy agent changes his mind!
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irishtim added 10:36 - Mar 5 Sort his contract out now please pj!!
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rogie_dog added 11:07 - Mar 5 Quality headline.
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Paulc added 11:15 - Mar 5 Can anyone please explain to me how it is possible that ANY player who's contract is up in 3 months has not been spoken to about it by the manager/board? How is this any way to conduct business?
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singtown added 11:20 - Mar 5 Don't know why PJ/Management is so slow in offering a new contract to this boy! He is arguably the only town player involved in a World Cup Finals and a regular player that helped NZ drew 3 games and not ran over/thrashed by hot favorites in the same group Get him to sign before other clubs poach him away!
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saffronblue added 12:01 - Mar 5 Do we really think that TS is good enough to take this club into the Premiership? I like his attitude and desire but I have concerns over his lack of pace and positional sense. I suspect that PJ is keeping his options open as there are likely to be several players available come the summer. Lets be honest, this time three months ago nobody would have batted an eyelid if he had been given a free in the transfer window. Maybe paired up with a McAuley type and in front of a decent keeper he may prove me wrong and I would like to see him given another couple of years as he is still relatively young but I am not getting too excited.

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tomisamos added 12:35 - Mar 5 saffronblue - yes. He can. He's a young player and needs confidence. He could also do with a better centre back than McAuley. Alongside Ryan Nelson for NZ he looked absolutely solid in the world cup. He's got a real potential and he just needs a chance to sustain a place. Sign him up!
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Gazelle added 14:04 - Mar 5 Excellent on Saturday but against a poor side who played to his strengths. Coming on very nicely though.
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riley26 added 15:32 - Mar 5 I am guilty of giving Tommy some stick in the past, the quite recent past too, need to see that he can do it consistently over a season, but we like to see our youth players nurtured and given a decent amount of time to develop.
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EatonBlue added 16:09 - Mar 5 Well done Tommy. Just look at the progress he has made in the last six months since those defeats against Southampton and P'bro.
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nthstd added 16:23 - Mar 5 Phil you are getting worse. Must be old age
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fourth added 19:07 - Mar 5 So Tommy has been used to put a different complexion on the dreadful Chopra/ Bullard rubbish. PJ should not use him to say that Chopra is OK but Bullard not. This is just opportune
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gilo1973 added 22:54 - Mar 5 i dont' like slagging off the club and give jas0999stick for doing so, however i am dumb founded as to how we have allowed ourselves to be in the position that this lad only has 3 months to run on his contract.
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