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."
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