Chopra In January Sales?

The hitman, who banged in a hat-trick for the reserves on Monday night, knows he has a monumental task breaking into the first-team picture with the partnership of Michael Owen and Alan Shearer hitting great heights. But Shearer hangs up his boots in the summer.

Chopra signed a new 12-month deal over the summer but is free to speak to interested parties in the New Year, and with talk of another "world class striker" set to join to replace him, Chopra won't want to hang around.

Two Premiership managers watched the striker against West Brom's second string earlier this week.