Chopra will never score for the Toon - Ten years of investment and no return

Michael Chopra will remain at Barnsley on loan until the end of the season.

It now looks increasingly likely that Chopra will never get the chance to score for Newcastle having once been heralded as Alan Shearer’s long term replacement.

The closest Chopra came to scoring was his disallowed effort against Blackburn last season when he made his only start for the club. Chopra will be out of contract at Newcastle when his loan deal expires and a renewal does not appear likely given his lack of impact during his nine other appearances for the Toon (all as substitute).

It is a shame that a player who was subject of so much hype as a youngster will fail to fulfil the potential that saw him win numerous accolades and a whole host of England youth caps having signed for his hometown club as a ten year old.

Have Newcastle United failed Michael Chopra? Given the apparent potential that the former Gosforth High School pupil possessed as a youngster then it’s hard to believe just how far short he has fallen of Premiership standard. The reason why is open to debate. Was it Chopra’s own lack of development? Or, did Newcastle’s reluctance to throw him in as a 17 year old hinder his progression?

Either way, a player who was destined to become a Geordie number 9 and save the club millions of pounds looks all set to leave the club in the summer, with Newcastle unlikely to see any return for over ten years of investment.