Blues boss Mick McCarthy has told Michael Chopra and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to show that they are worth a place in his team. The duo have been on the bench for the new manager’s first two games, the former Arsenal man making a brief appearances as a sub in both matches.

McCarthy says Chopra came to see him for a chat on Friday morning: “I’ve just had words with him, he just came to see me. I said ‘Get in my team’.

“He was just seeing the position, we’ve been here a week and we’ve had two games. He wants to play, and I’m happy. My door’s open for players who want to come and play.”

He says the former England U21 international has always impressed him: “I’ve come here and I hear all the stories about him, whatever it might be.

“I remember him and I know him as Michael Chopra playing against my teams — always a threat, always a goalscorer. Prove to me you should be in the team.”

McCarthy is confident that he can get the best out of the striker: “I hope so, I generally do.

"Players that have played for me, I think you’d find if you went around most would come and play for me again. There would be one or two that wouldn’t but I wouldn’t want them either.”

He was pleased with Chopra’s performance in the 1-0 U21 defeat to Swansea on Wednesday: “I thought Michael Chopra did really well in the U21s.

“I was pleased with his work ethic, with his link-up play. He’s not been playing so he’s not right at it.”

Chopra himself has tweeted that he and the rest of the squad are determined to get the Blues out of the relegation zone: “The players will do all they can for this club.

“It’s a great football club to play for and, believe me, come the end of season, Ipswich Town will not be in the bottom three.”

As for Emmanuel-Thomas, McCarthy says he’s being put through his paces at Playford Road: “He’s getting worked, he’s having work from Terry Connor in front of goal.

“He’s another one who’s got to get in my team. I know all about his ability — prove it, get in the team.”

The new boss added: “It’s amazing at a football club, it’s always the same, the best players are always not playing.

“And then they come and knock on your door, you play them and then you remember that they’re not the best players, because they’re not.

“It’s like when they’re on the bench sat behind you. Everybody’s always the best player, then you put them on and you realise they’re not the best players.

“Get in the team, stay in, prove to me, prove to everybody else. It’s a great job that, I’d love that, if you’re the best, you stay in the team. I generally try to pick the best team, not the worst team.”

Photo: Action Images

Edmunds5 added 06:20 - Nov 10 Well said Mick, no one has a devined right to play regardless of who they are. Just shows Mick is open to anyone at the club and will not put anyone out in the cold for no reason, a bit like Jewell did with N'Daw for example. Glad Chopra knocked to see him, shows he doesn't just want to sit on a bench every Saturday and pick up his hefty wages and actually does have a desire to do well for us. Its up to you now Chops, if you start today give your all for the cause, if you're on the bench, get on and change the game. Lets get a win today.

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shamboy added 07:27 - Nov 10 Fantastic comments from Mick. He's too long in the tooth to allow wasters to jerk him around. He might get 6 good months out of Chopra, but who really cares. The sooner Chopra is gone, the better. Chopra has knocked on his door with his little prepared speech, and has been told that the only way into the team is on merit, not on past achievements. Chopra may have thought he was being smart, but now he knows he is not smart enough. Mick has seen it all before from players with far more newt week the ears than Chopra. As for JET, who will take him if he fails here? Arsene has tol anyone who asks that he has an attitude problem. No hiding ace for JET.

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howdonblue added 07:40 - Nov 10 Real leadership ... at last in Mick we trust .
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DiamondGezzer added 07:42 - Nov 10 What a lift a win would bring to the supporters and all at ITFC at the moment. Not for my many years supporting Town have I felt so boringly low about our situation. Here's hoping for some sort of improvement.
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townietilidie added 07:47 - Nov 10 Great comments from MM . Let's hope that he can get these boys who have lost their way back on their game . @ Shamboy .. ' who cares ? The sooner Chopra is gone the better ' , stupid comment . The sooner we get Chopra scoring goals the better . 3 points today please lads .. COYB !!!
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larchblue added 07:50 - Nov 10 Good to hear that. But the crowd need to show them also that they want the win. Get out of your seats (if the nearest steward will allow it) and be that 12th man. Sing your hearts out for the lads. They need a great atmosphere to perform in front of, not a library. COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Umros added 07:53 - Nov 10 Well MIck Mr Chopra set himself a 30 goal season this year so................hopefully he will get in the team soon!
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Taricco_Fan added 07:58 - Nov 10 Honest and open appraisal from Mick yet again. He talks so much sense, it's refreshing.
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Arthur added 08:10 - Nov 10 I'm pleased that Chopra and JET are telling him they want to play (It's a start) but what a great response. I have a good feeling about Mick Mac.
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greentractorboy added 08:11 - Nov 10 the only goals chopra can score are own goals gambling debt drinking and slaging fans off. show him the door now dont need pepole like him around than you. chopra out
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Dissboyitfc added 08:22 - Nov 10 I loved the last 6 or 7 sentences, thats how to boss the changing room, the name means nothing, only the efforts in proving they're worth their place... Simple philosophy really, fine line between it working and all the players getting the hump, as appears to be the recent situation with Jewell, getting in loan players to replace the loan players who had replaced the ones who were not worthy of a place, with their crap attitudes. Chopra for me is the one ( amongst others of course) who really owes itfc and not only money either, the club have gone well beyond the call of duty with this bloke, he is gonna have a lot of time on his hands in the not to distant future to reflect on a career that could have gone so much better! Nothing last for ever Micheal! I Am Fifty very soon, born in the league title winning season and mum always reckoned towns results always helped a happy home to be even happier, whatever did she mean ;). Thing is Micheal you gobbed off about scoring 30 goals, start doing it and along with the rest of the players, start contributing to some happy households for far to long now we have had to put up with crap. Ipswich as a club and us as supporters deserve more.... SO START DELIVERING. At the moment you are going down in town history,and for no good reasons either, if you can live with that, then MM is right to leave you out......COYB

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ericclacton added 08:22 - Nov 10 Ive really taken to MM he sounds like a really good skin. I think we just might get a good result todayCOYB.
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blueherts added 08:29 - Nov 10 You just get the feeling MM gets the respect of the players - He is direct and fair - I am not happy with Chopra or JET and their work rate - Chopra has got it in him and if MM can harness it fantastic , As for JET , like with LM , the Jury is still out . If we had 7 or 8 outfield players who are giving it 100% every week ( and I think MM will do that) you can afford LM and JET style players . Positive today and just stop AUSTIN . Nice to see hewitt get a run out as well

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floridaboy added 08:49 - Nov 10 With January round the corner the players need to get their finger out and start getting results if not quite a few of them will be looking for new teams and lets be honest here how many will get new teams!! Let today be the starting point of a good run which will eventually get us out of the bottom 3 3-1
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Karlosfandangal added 08:54 - Nov 10 Well if Chopra get his 30 goals this season we are in the prem next season so he will need to score about 2 a game. Saying that on paper Campbell and Chopra up front sounds really good......... But on paper we have a great team
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IP3 added 09:02 - Nov 10 I have a feeling Emmanuel-Thomas will be the best player in the league next season. Most certainly has the ability, and with the right manager I think he can flourish. & I think Mick is that man. Onwards COYB
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LordMamu added 09:31 - Nov 10 Chopra and JET have a massively inflated opinion of themselves- most of what they tweet is fatuous asinine drivel and I think Big Mick has already formed his judgement of them...
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BergholtBru added 09:44 - Nov 10 Shamboy. How can you talk about being smart if you can`t spell correctly. No wonder you talk b..l..ks!!!
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:46 - Nov 10 Well said Big Mick, Chopra needs a jolt, hope you were not so polite in the dressing room .Do i think Chopra will show positive response ? ....doubt it very much .If he dosnt he should pack his bags [or should i say baggage] and go .
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paulm3paw added 10:13 - Nov 10 Mr Evans thanks for your help but can you please sell the club to someone who knows football . Your lack of knowledge is killing our club. Doesn't matter who the manager is they will fail with this situation as it is . I'm really worried religation will total Finnish our wonderful club.
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itfc1981 added 10:19 - Nov 10 Sir McCarthy!
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shamboy added 10:22 - Nov 10 Very lucid ebitfc. Do you not realise that Chopra and JET, along with a few others, have played their selfish games while PJ tore his hair out trying to save his job? No sympathy.
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casanovacrow added 10:26 - Nov 10 that comment was coming for those two the moment he came here. I think we'll get a response from Chops ...albeit for the short term before he becomes complacent again. JET on the other hand I cant see changing
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karls_dad added 10:36 - Nov 10 I would like to see some real work ethic, instead of sitting in late night bars slagging the club off, get your own personal fitness up, get out Mr Chopra do some road work, do not just wait for ordered training sessions, be there off your own back! put some desire into your career, the same goes for JET, Reo Coker, and many more! I fully appreciate that its all to easy to sit in your flash house, amble around the golf course, and the like! Given the same position i would be breaking my neck to push my career forward,, they are just lazy and complacent, happy wih their lot, until MM changes all this, instills the work etchic, and desire to push the club and them forward we are going absolutlely no where!

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SouperJim added 10:38 - Nov 10 Bravo Mick, no place for dead wood!
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