BBC Sportfootball

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 15:26 GMT, Monday, 18 October 2010 16:26 UK

Michael Chopra warning to Cardiff's Championship rivals

Craig Bellamy and Michael Chopra
Craig Bellamy and Michael Chopra were also together at Newcastle

Michael Chopra has warned Cardiff City's Championship rivals that "no-one" will stop their Premier League march if they can keep their stars fit.

Chopra hopes to be reunited with Craig Bellamy in City's star-studded strike-force for their visit to Coventry City.

Chopra returned from an ankle injury in Saturday's 3-2 win over Bristol City and Bellamy is fit after a knee problem for Tuesday's Championship trip.

"When we have good players in the team, no-one can stop us," said Chopra.

Chopra has only played 32 minutes alongside Bellamy in the Wales captain's Cardiff bow - a 4-0 triumph over Doncaster Rovers on 21 August - before rupturing ankle ligaments which kept him out until Saturday.

But now boss Jones is preparing to unleash his first-choice three-pronged Cardiff attack of Bellamy, Chopra and eight-goal top-scorer Jay Bothroyd against play-chasing Coventry at The Ricoh Arena on Tuesday.

Second-placed Cardiff, last season's defeated play-off finalists, have won seven out of their last 10 Championship games and travel to Coventry to play a side who they have beaten in their last four meetings.

And Chopra hopes his former Newcastle United team-mate Bellamy returns as the Bluebirds take on the Sky Blues.

"It would be brilliant if Bellers is back because he is an important player for us," said the former England under-21 international.

"And when we have good players in the team, no-one can stop us.

"I'm disappointed to only play just 30 minutes or so on Bellers' first game but that's football - so I want to play as well."

606: DEBATE
ChopraPounces

Jones boasts arguably the Championship's strongest squads after adding Premier League quality players such as Bellamy, Seyi Olofinjana, Jason Koumas and Andy Keogh and keeping his stars from last season.

But Jones is trying to manage his strikers as Bellamy and Chopra both return to full fitness after injury.

Chopra played a full 90 minutes in Cardiff's 3-2 victory over bottom club Bristol City on Saturday while Bellamy was rested although he was fit to play.

The Manchester City striker, on a season-long loan at his home-town club, missed Wales' Euro 2012 qualifying defeats to Bulgaria and Switzerland as Jones tries to manage Bellamy's long-standing knee problems.

And Jones admitted: "We have three games in a week and I want to get two games out of Craig."

But while Jones is expected to play Bellamy at his former club on Tuesday, the Cardiff boss has hinted Chopra may take time out.

"When players like Chopra have been out for a long time, they play well in the first game but the problem is the second game - especially in such a short space of time," said Jones.

"And we have players coming back and Craig is available again - so it means I have options."

But Chopra, who scored 21 goals last season, has told Jones he wants to play and add to his two goals in a curtailed campaign.

"Being a goal-scorer, all I wanted to do in my first game back was score," he admitted.

"I've been out for a long time and haven't had many training sessions with the boys so the more I play in the team, the better I'll be."

Jones does not only have a striking dilemma, the Cardiff boss also has injury concerns over Stephen McPhail.

The Irish midfielder was forced off with a knee injury in the 73rd minute of Cardiff's win on Saturday so will have a late fitness test before Tuesday's clash in Coventry.

"We had a concern about him straight after Saturday's game," said Jones.

"But there is a chance he could play at Coventry. He ran around with the lads on Sunday but will go for a scan. If the knee is just badly bruised, we can cover that."

Jones is already without McPhail's midfield colleague Danny Drinkwater (thigh) and full-back Paul Quinn (knee ligaments) but Wales defender Darcy Blake returns from suspension at Coventry.



Print Sponsor


see also
Coventry City 1-2 Cardiff City
19 Oct 10 |  Championship
McPhail signs Cardiff extension
17 Oct 10 |  Cardiff
England should 'look at' Bothroyd
16 Oct 10 |  Cardiff
Cardiff 3-2 Bristol City
16 Oct 10 |  Championship
Jones backs Bellamy rest period
15 Oct 10 |  Cardiff
Jones explains Bellamy knee worry
03 Oct 10 |  Cardiff
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites