Cardiff looking to replace Chopra

Last updated : 18 March 2011 By BBC Sport

The 27-year-old is Cardiff's second best goal scorer this season with 11 behind Jay Bothroyd with 17.

"It is something we will look at. It's something we are trying... but who do you bring in?" said manager Dave Jones.

The problem for Cardiff even with midfielder Aaron Ramsey having been recalled by Arsenal is that they have plenty of loan players already.

The Bluebirds have got six players on loan and only five are allowed to be used in a match squad.

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy, midfield duo Seyi Olofinjana of Hull and Wigan's Jason Koumas are on season-long loans.

Arsenal midfielder Jay-Emmanuel-Thomas joined in January on loan until the end of the season, and earlier this month goalkeepers Stephen Bywater and Jason Brown joined on loan.

"We have loan players in. We are at our quota of being able to play - actually one more than what we can actually play," admitted Jones.

"You just can't go out and say: 'this is what we want and let's have them'. It doesn't work that way.

"We have got Rambo [Ramsey] who was called back. That was a disappointment for us. But that's what happens in the loan system. The other ones are here long-term.

"We'll use and we'll try to use it and if we can get one in then I'm sure we will do."

Cardiff City have until the loan deadline of Thursday, 24 March to recruit a replacement for Chopra.

Jones conceded that Chopra's injury was a massive blow for Cardiff City as they continue their promotion push especially as leading scorer Bothroyd has failed to score in the last nine league matches.

"I think that speaks for itself how much of a blow it [Chopra's injury] is. It is a major blow for us because he's a big player at this football club.

"We can switch and change. Don't forget at that start of the season we didn't have Michael. We lost Michael after one game. 

"So it gives opportunity for others and it's up to the others to take it."

Cardiff head to Millwall on Saturday looking to bounce back from two defeats and a draw in their last three games as their push for automatic promotion has faltered.

Millwall have already beaten promotion hopefuls Queens Park Rangers and Burnley, as well as holding Nottingham Forest.

But Jones remains upbeat on his side's situation.

"It seems everybody is having a blip at the moment and we are getting to that stage of the season," said Jones.

"We are still in there. We are still in with a very, very good shout of an automatic promotion place and while that's still there you keep chasing it.

"We are concerned: are we playing well? No. We are concerned that we haven't scored goals. Are we still within a good shout of it? Yes. So you keep working away, but everybody looks for a problem.

"We are hanging in there like everybody else is, and they are fighting, and these players will fight right to the end and as long as the fans get that they'll stay with them and that's important to us."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport