Michael Chopra lived the dream of every young footballer.

Born and raised in Newcastle-upon-Tyne the young striker was handed the opportunity of a lifetime after joining the Magpies' youth academy.

After proving himself as a ruthless attacker at youth level the frontman made the step up to senior football where he fulfilled his ambition of playing for Newcastle in the Premier League.

While never really establishing himself as a first team regular, Chopra did manage to make 31 senior appearances for Newcastle during his six years as a professional with the club.

Loan spells with Watford, Nottingham Forest and Barnsley interrupted his time at St James' Park and ultimately solidified his desire to move on and become a regular first team player.

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He moved to Cardiff City where Chopra scored 22 goals and racked up 12 assists in 42 Championship appearances, before moving back to the North East with newly-promoted Sunderland.

Unfortunately he couldn't replicate the same goal scoring form at the Stadium Of Light as he notched just eight strikes in 42 appearances in his two seasons in red and white.

After falling down the pecking order on Wearside Chopra returned to Cardiff where he picked up where he left off by scoring another 41 goals in his three further seasons in South Wales.

Chopra continued firing as he joined Ipswich Town, before enjoying spells in both Scotland and India towards the end of his career.

Since retiring, Chopra has established himself as a football intermediary where he makes a living helping young footballers to follow in his footsteps by living their dreams in the professional game.

It may not have been a career where he thrived at the highest level, but few can argue with Chopra's goal record in the EFL and his status as one of the top strikers to grace the Championship.