Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

Chopra rues Magpies spell

24 Oct 2008 - 14:01:27

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Sunderland striker Michael Chopra is pleased he left Newcastle United two years ago as he believes he wasn't given the chance to shine at St James' Park.

The 24-year-old moved to Cardiff City before being snapped up by the Black Cats in the summer of 2007 and has gone on to find the net eight times in 39 games for Roy Keane's side.

Chopra said in the build-up to the Tyne-Wear derby: "I thought I deserved a lot more chances (at Newcastle) than I got.

"I don't know if that was because of the managers or whatever, but I thought going into training, working hard in training, stuff like that, I just thought I was going to get more of an opportunity.

"When the time came and they offered me a new contract, I decided to step away from it and get out of the club before I destroyed my career any more.

"I've been fortunate to play with some great players, some top-class internationals - Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Patrick Kluivert - and now I'm training with Djibril Cisse and people like that.

"I've no doubt that what the manager is doing with this club, he'll be bringing more top international players in.

"You can only learn and you can only get better picking up different things from all these top players."