Michael Chopra has scored 11 goals in all competitions for Cardiff this season

Cardiff City have been dealt an injury blow as Michael Chopra will miss their Premier League promotion push after suffering a hamstring tear.

The 27-year-old striker was forced off in the 25th minute of Cardiff's 2-2 Championship draw with Barnsley on Sunday and replaced by Chris Burke.

Cardiff's £4m record signing went down clutching his hamstring and needed the help of a stretcher to leave the arena.

"Totally devastated my season is over," Chopra told his Twitter site.

And a Cardiff statement confirmed: "Scan results have confirmed the worst.

"Michael has suffered a grade three hamstring tear and will be out for a period expected to be between 10 to 12 weeks, effectively ending any chance of his involvement in the 2010/11 Championship season run-in."

Chopra, who was playing his 200th career league start on Sunday, has missed numerous games this season because of a series of ankle injuries.

But the 27-year-old, the scorer of 11 goals in all competitions this season, will now miss the final nine games of Cardiff's promotion bid - with their final Championship match at Burnley on 7 May.

And the Bluebirds manager, who does have plenty of striking options, hopes goal-getter Chopra will return soon.

Chopra went down in the 23rd minute after racing onto a Stephen McPhail pass.

Jones has plenty of striking options as England international Jay Bothroyd and Wales star Craig Bellamy can lead Cardiff's line while targetman Jon Parkin was on the bench against Barnsley.

The Cardiff manager could also play Jay Emmanuel Thomas, Peter Whittingham or Chris Burke out wide in Jones' preferred three-pronged attack formation.

But Chopra's importance to Cardiff was more than just his goals but his work-rate and persistence in being the first line of defence as well as being a focal point of their attack.

"It's disappointing news for all concerned," added the Cardiff statement.

"With the squad now preparing for the last nine games of the season without one of our most potent attacking options."

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