MICHAEL CHOPRA has revealed he can handle the heat ahead of his return to St James’ Park on Friday night with Cardiff City.
But he has promised the Toon Army he will not celebrate if he finally scores at the ground in which he was once a season ticket holder.
The Geordie striker, who was linked with a move back in the January transfer window, was roundly booed by home fans when he last appeared on the hallowed turf at Gallowgate, but ended up falling out of favour with Sunderland fans too after missing a late sitter in last season’s Tyne-Wear derby.
Chopra was also subject to abuse at last Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace after he became involved with a Newcastle fan who had asked him why he joined the Wearsiders in the first place.
It was Glenn Roeder who offered Chopra the chance to stay at United back in 2006, but the Academy product – who scored his only league goal against Sunderland in a 4-1 win – opted to switch to the Bluebirds in search of first-team football before heading to the Stadium of Light.
Chopra told the Chronicle: “Obviously, I’m a Newcastle fan, and it’s always been a dream of mine to score at St James’s Park.
“It’s still my dream now, but even if I do score, I won’t celebrate.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Newcastle and the fans.
“I go to a lot of games – when I’ve got a day off, I get up to Newcastle and watch them play.
“I still support the team – it’s where I was brought up – but on Friday, I’m a Cardiff City player, not a Newcastle player. I’ve got to do my best for Cardiff.
“I’m looking forward to it – it’s the first fixture I looked for when they came out.
“I still love the football club, but on Friday, when I put a Cardiff City shirt on, I’ll only be thinking about helping the team get a result.”
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