Edgar fearless of Chopra threat

Last updated : 02 April 2010 By BBC Sport

Swansea City loanee David Edgar says he does not worry about the threat posed by Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra ahead of Saturday's south Wales derby.Defender Edgar, on loan from Burnley, could face his former Newcastle team-mate in the vital play-off clash.

"When I was in the academy at Newcastle he was always the big prospect, so I'm looking forward to marking him if I get the chance to play," said Edgar.

"I know Chops and he won't get under my skin, it won't work."

Edgar came through the ranks at Newcastle and then spent three years at St James' Park before leaving last summer for Turf Moor.

But found chances at the Premier League strugglers limited and was loaned out to Swansea last week.

Chopra left Newcastle for his first stint at Cardiff in 2006 but joined Sunderland the following year for £5m after scoring 22 goals in 44 appearances.

But he spent much of his second season back in south Wales on loan after losing his place in the side and then made his return permanent in the summer.

Should both feature in Saturday's sell-out match at the Cardiff City Stadium, it will not be the first time they have been on opposing sides.

In April 2008, the pair were late substitutes in Newcastle's 2-0 over Sunderland, where Chopra was at the time.

And Edgar believes he will be prepared for an electric atmosphere having been involved in the hotly-contested Tyneside derby.

"I've heard a lot about the fans, about the rivalry and things like that," said the Canadian Under-20 international.

"I was lucky enough to play in the Newcastle-Sunderland derby and it was a really exciting atmosphere.

"Hopefully I can do a job for Swansea City against Cardiff."

Two sides will arrive at Saturday's derby with vastly contrasting recent form.

Swansea's stuttering run has yielded just one win in seven, but Cardiff have found some momentum at the right time with four wins and a draw in their last five outings.

Those results have seen the Bluebirds leapfrog the Swans into fourth place in the Championship with just six games remaining.

But Edgar does not believe there is any extra pressure on the Swans as they seek a victory that would take them level on points with their neighbours.

"We just go out and play Swansea City's game and that's the one thing that we can do," said Edgar, who made his debut in the Swans 0-0 draw at home to Ipswich last Saturday.

"Hopefully we can get the goals to push us forward and get the win."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport