Souness hands Chopra rare chance

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness handed young striker Michael Chopra a rare chance to prove himself in the crucial Barclays Premiership clash with the manager’s former club Blackburn.

The 22-year-old was one of two changes to the side which went down 1-0 at Fulham last weekend as he replaced Charles N’Zogbia, with Titus Bramble returning from an ankle injury in a defence which was without Stephen Carr after more surgery this week.