Manager Mick McCarthy insists that striker Michael Chopra isn’t out of his Portman Road plans, despite the former England U21 international having featured for just 12 minutes since he took over at Town.

Chopra, introduced from the bench late on at Leicester on Saturday, has been a sub in each of McCarthy’s four games in charge but the new Blues boss, who admits he knows little of the striker’s off-field issues, says he rates the former Newcastle, Sunderland and Cardiff man highly.

“I’ve a lot of time for Chops,” he said. “And certainly in terms of his ability he’s been one of the really good Championship players over the last few years. I’d like to get that happening again.

“I actually don’t know about his problems. I just want to see him on the pitch. I’ve watched him in training. He’s one of the best players here, there’s no doubt about that.

“Why he’s not been in the team is for other people. I’m seeing what he’s doing and I’ve been impressed with him.

“But in DJ Campbell we’ve got Johnny on the spot at the minute, who is sticking the ball in the net, and I think Murph playing up front with him is a good foil for him.”

That partnership may be set to change with Tyrone Barnett coming in on loan yesterday, although the Peterborough striker isn’t available for Saturday’s game against his parent club.

McCarthy says Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is also in the increasingly fierce competition for places up front: “Another one who is a really talented player and I’m going to try to get the best out of him as well. He can give us more, there’s no doubt. We will get the best out of him.

“Terry Connor’s worked with him, more as a centre forward. He’s done a lot of work with him already.”

Photo: Action Images

adie1978 added 10:08 - Nov 20 What's the chance of beckham on loan ?? ;-)
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gazmangaz added 10:25 - Nov 20 He might be one of the best players here but thats not saying much !
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Guthrum added 10:31 - Nov 20 In his brief moments on the pitch on Saturday, Chopra did at least get himself in the right place for one of our very, very few chances on goal, but was just unable to keep his header down. I take that as a positive sign. If he gets more than one chance a game, he's very likely to score.
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Marcus added 10:41 - Nov 20 They're both confidence players and while the team is lacking that they haven't, so far, shown they case rise to the challenge. I still hope both can do well. Both lost 'friends' by being offensive to fans on twitter. Not sure if that was due to immaturity or insecurity (or both). This was followed by under-par performances. Joining the dots it's easy to see why they're unpopular. Even most critics would love to see them play Ti their potential while still with Town and perhaps it's overdue.

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Edmunds5 added 10:46 - Nov 20 For me its too easy to just solely blame Chopra, sometimes footballers through times in their career where they're either in a moment or not in a moment. He was like this at Cardiff where he scored more than 20 goals in a season and was playing every week and things were smooth. Now he's on the bench and finding it difficult to get in the side, that doesn't mean he's rubbish, I'm sure you could think of many strikers who have scored 20 odd goals a few season then struggled a bit at other times, maybe he will score soon, get a run and then grab goals for us,things can change. I also think Chops gets disheartened quite easily, he revels in being the main man and when he's not I find he takes it too much as an insult and loses concentration, he was our top goalscorer last year in a reasonably poor side, he just needs a goal and that may spark him, that could happen at any time.

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gazzmac4 added 10:52 - Nov 20 Im with MM on this one. Chops is proven at this level and does seem to be sorting his demons out. Still feel he has a lot to offer us and his time will come again. Its just at this moment in time DJC is in a bit of goal scoring form and probably deserves to eb ahead in the pecking order. Chops does actually belong to us too which is good. Lets hope next time he gets a chance he grabs it with both hands and shakes it until 14 or so goals fall out!

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cats_whiskers added 10:57 - Nov 20 "Chopra one of our best players" MM must be cracking jokes The guy is a liability, doesn't act responsibly, doesn't fit into our current setup and come January he will involved in this betting investigation so his form is more than likely to dip even further downhill to what the substandard level it is now. Instead of nice summer breaks in the USA, send him off to Timbuktu instead on a one way ticket, or where Priskin ended up.

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kerryblue added 10:59 - Nov 20 Maybe then Mr Chopra would like to start his season instead of running around causing mayhem off the field,it is nearly Christmas afterall,I agree with others on here he looks more like Onslow these days than an athlete,either sell him or send him to weight watchers
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airliner added 11:46 - Nov 20 Thisis spin to get the best price in transfer window. MM knows he has a huge problem on his hands and knows how to deal with errant players and sell them on. He is alot shrewder than we think and does not let on what hes up to like PJ.
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blueherts added 11:55 - Nov 20 Like all strikers he is a confidence player . I am more concerned about the players behind him .ie CM and BACK 4, until we learn to deal with conceding goals up front is least of our issues . Barnett is a good addition as we need more physical presence up front holding up on the few occasions we get ball in final third
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 12:28 - Nov 20 Clearly good man management. Nothing much would be served by slagging MC off just now. And, clearly, he is a very good player at this level, when he is playing up to capacity. The big question is, can he reach those heights again? He's had every assistance. Now it's up to him.
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BlueVelvet added 12:39 - Nov 20 Obviously MM is keeping Chops fresh for a tough game - we just had one, so don't believe wot MM is reported to have said - Chops needs motivation in big helpings to negate all the off pitch garbage
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NoelTheDub added 12:44 - Nov 20 Chops is a proven goalscorer at this level,no doubt he has some serious problems off the pitch that dosent help him or our team BUT when jewell played him up front on his own in a team that had no out and out wingers he looked a shadow of himself and was getting slated,he is an in the box player and not blessed with any pace and relays on players supplying him or a big man up with him.As someone said he is one of our players an MM will make his mind up on him its not chops fault alone that we are where we are he will get goals for us no doubt....

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TheDoctor added 13:28 - Nov 20 When Chopra was scoring goals for Cardiff, I seem to remember he played alongside Jay Bothroyd (6'3") and Peter Whittingham was in the team. PJ decided to play Chopra up front on his own with a midfield who are incapable of playing the telling pass. And everyone wonders why he can't score! Seems similar to playing a winger at right back and then wondering why they are rubbish at defending. If MM can sort those elements then may be he is right and Chopra will again prove to be a goal scorer at this level. Doesn't mean I like him, but we should still support him until he is no longer our player.

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Wickets added 13:52 - Nov 20 Form is temporary class is permanent. Chops will be back.
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ericclacton added 14:18 - Nov 20 Chopra's head is not right, he probably has got plenty of talent but if your head isn't right what ever you try to achieve in life it will not happen.
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Karlosfandangal added 15:19 - Nov 20 Why have we signed Barnett then 4 in 23 for Posh if Chops is one of the best, Campbell is jonny on the spot, Murphy is a good foil for Campbell and Jet can give more now he has worked with Connor. Sorry forgot about Scotland, Murray and even Ellington That's 8 strikers then
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oldelsworthyfan added 15:51 - Nov 20 MM knows what he's doing. Chops needs some confidence and I would like to see him having a few games alongside Campbell before thinking of getting rid of him. What Chops is not is a lone striker.
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blueherts added 16:12 - Nov 20 Karlos - You forgot Mohsni!!! and Marriott so I see a plan emerging - maybe he is gonna play all 10 strikers - apart from Hyam , cant think who else we need really they score 6 , we score 7 - like that
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Tractastic added 16:44 - Nov 20 I actually feel for Chopra despite the baggage he has brought to our club. Jewell insisted on playing him as a lone striker and he was regularly isolated from his team mates. Like DJ he is a poacher but IMO he has class about him and with the right support could score 20 a season. Now MM is starting to change the shape of the team (thank god) i think Chopra could excel alonsgside the likes of Tyrone Barnett and i'm expecting good things ahead. Just maybe Mick arriving is the wake up call he needed and when he's given a chance in the right formation i'm expecting him to come good.

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jas0999 added 17:35 - Nov 20 Not sure about this - but perhaps MM is just trying to improve Chopra's confidence. Personally, I would like to see Chopra given a chance, but he is too similar to DJ - but DJ will probably leave in January. Murphy is by far the worst forward at the club and will hopefully be sent back to Celtic - Barnett will come in for him; but on Saturday I would play Scotland or JET alongside DJ - anyone but Murphy!

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portmanteau added 17:44 - Nov 20 I'm fed up with hearing how great these players were. past tense. they are now only here because itfc is the old footballers rest home where you come to spend your last (playing) days in the style to which you were accustomed. posh are up against it and judging by some of their comebacks we are in for another roasting. as for us apart from barnsley and west ham last season, when have itfc and fighting spirit/last ditch defending/etc appeared in the same sentence?

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muccletonjoe added 18:03 - Nov 20 He has taken everything and given nothing
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Arthur added 18:16 - Nov 20 Agree with a JAS that Chopra is too similar to Campbell to play together. If he is back on song, he could replace Campbell (if Campbell gets recalled) and I would like to see Barnett as their strike partner rather than Murphy who I honestly never did rate.
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h32 added 18:42 - Nov 20 Dissboyitfc - totally agree with you - but the ball is firmly at Chopra's feet, and in his court now. No choice now for him to do anything other than face up, and perform - or OUT. Just as it should be. Now let's watch this space ...... !!
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