Striker Michael Chopra expressed his delight at netting in Town’s opening pre-season friendly at Helmond Sport on Tuesday and insisted that his target of 25 to 30 goals in the new season is a realistic one.
The 28-year-old was pleased to get off the mark during the 1-1 draw with the Dutch Eerste Divisie side: "Obviously delighted, especially with how my summer’s gone and things like that.
"I’m feeling sharp and I’m feeling fit, probably the best I’ve been for four years, thanks to the club and the gaffer. I appreciate what they’ve done for me and I’m just trying to repay them now on the pitch.”
He says he thoroughly enjoyed his spell at the $4,500-a-week Ashram Healthort in Calabasas, California and intends on visiting it again in the future: "It was amazing. Some of the things I was doing out there I wouldn’t even have thought about doing.
"It was a great experience for me and I’ll probably go again because I enjoyed it, I lost a lot of weight [3kg] and when I came I was in good shape. The main thing starts now and we’re building up to the first game of the season.”
After returning from the resort, Chopra tweeted about his time there and posted a large number of photos. He says he enjoys using the medium as a way of keeping fans in touch: "It’s a lot easier for people to follow you and to get in touch with you, to read what’s going on in your life and things like that.
"I’ve posted a lot of pictures on there about what I was doing. I wanted people to know how hard I was working off-season, trying to get fit. I just want to do well for this football club and judging by what I’ve done so far and what the manager’s said about me, I’m going in the right direction.”
The ex-Newcastle, Cardiff and Sunderland man says he’s beginning to put his off-field issues behind him, which is allowing him to focus more on his football: "Everyone knows what’s happened in the past but I’ve got to look to the future now, and that’s doing well at Ipswich and repaying important people who have stood by me and things like that.
"It would have been easy for the football club and the manager just to wash their hands of me but they’ve stood by me and I’m grateful for what they’ve done and hopefully I can kick on.”
Recently on Twitter, the former England U21 international revealed his intention to score 25 to 30 goals in the coming season, an ambitious target he admits but one he believes is realistic if he’s at the top of his form: "I’ve got a lot of belief in my ability. I scored 14 goals last year and, believe me, it was probably the worst season I’ve had with things off the pitch, and things on the pitch really.
"For me to score 14 goals and to play at such a bad standard in my eyes, I believe that when I’m playing well and I’m at my best and if I’m fit, I can get 25 to 30.”
Manager Paul Jewell has signalled his intention to bring in another striker with Derby man Steve Davies believed to be top of his list, but Chopra says he’s not overly concerned who he partners as long as he’s in the side himself: "I’m not really bothered who I’m up front with as long as I’m on the teamsheet.
"I was disappointed to be left out of certain games last year and it’s down to me to make sure my name’s first on the teamsheet every week, and I can do that by playing well.
"Whatever formation the manager wants to play, I’ll welcome it. If he wants to bring in another striker, then so be it. But I’ve got to make sure I’m first on the teamsheet.”
Chopra will be looking to add to that goal against Helmond Sport when the Blues take on Den Bosch at their training ground this evening in their second and final pre-season friendly in Holland (KO 7pm local time). The squad return to the UK tomorrow.