Chopra Rules Out Permanent Forest Deal


By Matthew Jones
February 6 2004

20-year-old striker Michael Chopra has ruled out the possibility of a permanent move to Nottingham Forest - insisting he wants to return to Newcastle and fight for his place.

Jimmy Walker

CHOPS STAYING PUT

Chopra left St James' Park on Thursday on a month's loan but left a "do not forget about me" plea for manager Sir Bobby Robson.

Chopra sits behind Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Shola Ameobi and now loan signing Michael Bridges in the pecking order for a starting place up front for the Magpies, but insists that he can return to the Tyneside club and challenge for a first-team shirt.

"I want to play football at Newcastle and I will be aiming to start all over again next season," he said.

"The manager has wished me all the best, and I aim to prove to him what I can do by doing well at Forest.

"I am pleased to have signed for Forest because with Michael Bridges joining, I have gone further down the pecking order.

"When I played for the first team against Blackburn, I thought I had done all right, but then I was left out the next game and I wondered what happened.

"But now I just want to get my head down again and work hard."

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