Striker Michael Chopra has revealed that he’s targeting 20 goals in his first season with the Blues and dedicated Tuesday’s winner at Portsmouth to his son Sebastian, who celebrated his fourth birthday yesterday. The goal at Fratton Park took the 28-year-old’s total to 11, despite a year which has seen him spend time in rehab dealing with his gambling problems and spells out of the side.
Tweeting after Tuesday’s 1-0 victory at Pompey, Chopra said: "Another great win tonight. Thanks to Ipswich fans travelling all that way, great support, Another goal tonight, 11 this season only nine more to go for my target.
"My little boy asked me to score for him for his birthday [on Wednesday] and I can't wait to tell him I did and see his smile on his face on his fourth birthday.”
Only five players have scored more goals that Chopra in the Championship this season — Southampton’s Rickie Lambert (16), Ross McCormack of Leeds (15), Burnley’s Jay Rodriguez, Leicester’s David Nugent and Darius Henderson of Millwall (all 12).
The Blues frontman, who signed for £1 million from Cardiff in the summer, is currently level in sixth with Leeds winger Robert Snodgrass and former Town target Billy Sharp, who joined Southampton from Doncaster last month.
Chopra’s recent run of four goals in three games hasn’t gone unnoticed at his former club, who visit Portman Road on Saturday.
Stand-in skipper Peter Whittingham knows his one-time team-mate will be looking to add to the goal he scored against the Bluebirds in the 2-2 draw in Wales earlier in the season to continue his current streak: "Let’s hope Chops isn’t able to hurt us too. He’s a natural goalscorer and he thrives on putting the ball into the net.
"If he scores he is high on confidence and flying. Chops scored the only goal against Portsmouth in midweek — and next he wants to put one over us on Saturday. It’s up to us to make sure he doesn’t.”
Photo: Action Images