Fitter-than-ever striker Michael Chopra has set himself an ambitious target of scoring 25-30 goals for the Blues next season. The 28-year-old says he is feeling very good about himself as he goes into what he says is a “big, big” year for him.

Writing on Twitter, Chopra said: “I'll be setting my targets high this year. I did not reach my target last year [scoring 14 times rather than 20], but I'm fitter and stronger this year. I'll be going for 25-30 goals this year. [It] is going to be a big, big year for me.”

The former England U21 international’s first season with the Blues was blighted by off-field issues as he sought to address his long-term gambling problems with his performances and fitness suffering as a result.

Town sent the ex-Cardiff, Sunderland and Newcastle man for a week at the Ashram Healthort in Calabasas, California last month where he was joined by fitness coach Andy Liddell.

On his return from the $4,500-a-week retreat, the frontman revealed that he had lost three kilograms and says he very much enjoyed his time there: “America was amazing, very grateful to the club for sorting it all out.

“Had a great time and worked hard, along with the fitness coach Andy Liddell. People will see a different player this year. Can't wait for the season to start now.”

He says his better shape is illustrated by the data collected at the start of pre-season training last week: “Put it this way, we did a test this time last year and I got level 14. We did the same test on Thursday and got 19.1, so I'm feeling very good about myself this year.

“I believe I will be top scorer. I had a very bad season last year and scored 14 goals, so you can only imagine how many I will score if I have a good season.”

Photo: Action Images

SuperReuser added 11:47 - Jul 11 GO ON CHOPS!!!
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pazelle added 11:47 - Jul 11 Ah this bit! If we play 4231 and he gets 20 I'd be delighted
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itfc1981 added 11:48 - Jul 11 Chopra league top scorer? We need some creativity in midfield to help him out.
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Urchin added 11:49 - Jul 11 Hope he can prove himself to himself. really looking foreard to next season - I have a good gut feeling we may be more successful than most think we will. (Looking forward to seeing alanMohon2011 and ITFC1981 positive comments on this one!)
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Urchin added 11:50 - Jul 11 Whoops too late!
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brockleyblueboy added 11:51 - Jul 11 Superb attitude, really excited about the season and really glad Chops is in a positive mood. Its the kind of attitude we need. I will be backing himto get 20+ this coming season and hope he has put his troubles to one side. Top lad. If you think about it, all we needed to do was turn 5 draws/losses into wins, we would have been in the play-offs last season Lets really get behind the team and club this season, stop all the negativity and all push in the right direction. COYB

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irishtim added 11:51 - Jul 11 If he scores 25-30 goals, we should be up there in top 6 at least imo.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 11:51 - Jul 11 Well we desperately need a pacey left winger to make some chances for him. That is one of the things we lacked so desperately last season, although Murphy did a decent job on occasions.
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commuterblue added 11:57 - Jul 11 if he's talking about the bleep test, 19.1 is unbelievable (didn't even know it went up that high)
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kerryblue added 11:59 - Jul 11 HE HAD BETTER STAY AWAY FROM THE BOOKIES AND OFF THE SAUCE
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 12:02 - Jul 11 itfc1981 - we didnt fail to create chances last year and only four teams scored more goals than us, and Reading the champions the same number , so once again a negative comment with no factual basis.
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Langdon_Blue added 12:11 - Jul 11 Great to hear! I hope Bullard is in the same frame of mind too...together they could make a big difference this season, IF they stayed focused.
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:12 - Jul 11 Hope you can Chops,and i agree with ThatMuhrenCross it would be good to have a pacey winger[we have had some over the years .] Im not expecting too many changes to the team ,and believe if the existing players put max effort in 90 mins a match ,we would be a force to be reckoned with. Sadly we have not been getting that effort past few seasons.Consistancy is the key for promotion we must hit the ground running and maintain it ,hard i know, but thats what it takes now . COYB

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Pendejo added 12:18 - Jul 11 Ambitious... who are we selling him to? As someone else says hope Bullard has the same sort of attitude for the coming season. A fit & up for it Bullard could = Chops hitting his target. COYBs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Westover added 12:18 - Jul 11 Seems in the right frame of mind and wants to pay Town back for all that they have done for him lets hope he keeps fit all season and gets 25 plus goals
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Mark added 12:22 - Jul 11 It's superb to read that Chopra is so confident and seems in such good condition. His target is very ambitious, no one has scored 25 goals in a season since Kevin Wilson in 1986-7 (we finished 5th in the old Division Two that year). A top striker can make all the difference, so go go Chops!!
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MintyHalfWit added 12:32 - Jul 11 Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. 7.

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brockleyblueboy added 12:33 - Jul 11 I really hope Chopra and Bullard have sat down and said "you know what, we owe the fans, we owe the club and owe ourselves to have a decent season, lets make it happen" because in my mind (and I am sure I will get cussed for this) on their day there is no better striker or midfielder in the league. COYB
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peteswindon added 12:45 - Jul 11 That is the sort of talk and enthusiasm we need at the club go CHOPRA
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Hugo_Chavez added 12:49 - Jul 11 brockleyblueboy you live in cloud cuckoo land I'm afraid....but nice sentiment anyway.
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buryblue77 added 12:55 - Jul 11 Dozzell, exactly! Being 5th top scoring team doesn't indicate a team struggling to create or score, although we did have some wasteful finishing at times so we could have scored even more. It was defense which let us down, hopeful the addition of Chambers and a new keeper or 2 will sort that. Minty, I will admit, 25-30 goals is going some but let him havethe belief to get the goals we need and not laugh at him.

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JewellintheTown added 13:05 - Jul 11 Why isnt 25-30 goals a reasonable target? If he scored 20% of the chances he missed last season he'd be on for that, and there were some sitters he missed. It sound like chops thinks he's on fire so doesnt seem unreasonable to me, plus if the crowd are behind him, then theres no reason he couldnt get more. Chops is up for it so Its over to the fans now.
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Warkys_Tash added 13:14 - Jul 11 Great attitude to the coming season, let's hope he keeps it up and doesn't fall off the wagon. He will certainly get the support from true ITFC fans and the club are certainly pulling out all the stops by sending him to the U.S - Let us also hope his pre-season mojo, along with Chambers' motivation, rubs off on the rest of the squad and we get off to a flyer. Be nice to see Bullard follow suit as he owes all connected ITFC, big time.

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blue89 added 13:31 - Jul 11 Score 10 by christmas then we'll talk...
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PJ_Needs_Duncan added 13:33 - Jul 11 I think someone is back on the sauce
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