The 24-year-old spent half his life on the books at the St James' Park club as he emerged from the schoolboy ranks, through the England youth set-up and to the fringes of the first team.

However, after failing to make the breakthrough as the likes of Alan Shearer, Patrick Kluivert and Michael Owen stood in his way, Chopra decided the time was right to seek pastures new during the summer of 2006.

The frontman's £500,000 move to Cardiff proved a major catalyst as his 22 goals in 44 appearances for the Bluebirds persuaded Black Cats boss Roy Keane to pay the Welsh club 10 times what they had handed over for him just 12 months earlier.

Chopra, by no means the first man to cross the Tyneside-Wearside divide, will lock horns with his former club tomorrow determined to gain revenge for his disappointment and last season's near miss, when he was denied a late winner by the crossbar in the corresponding fixture.

He said: "I thought I deserved a lot more chances than I got.

"I don't know if that was because of the managers or whatever, but I thought going into training, working hard in training, stuff like that, I just thought I was going to get more of an opportunity.

"When the time came and they offered me a new contract, I decided to step away from it and get out of the club before I destroyed my career any more."

Chopra appeared only as a substitute in the return fixture at St James', when a double from Owen secured all three points for the Magpies.

He trained alongside the England star during the latter stages of his time on Tyneside, and admits the opportunity to learn from the big-name strikers with whom he has rubbed shoulders over the years has helped him hone his game.

Chopra said: "I have been fortunate to play with some great players, some top-class internationals - Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Patrick Kluivert, and now I am training with Djibril Cisse and people like that.

"I have no doubt that what the manager is doing with this club, he will be bringing more top international players in.

"You can only learn and you can only get better picking up different things from all these top players."

Shola Ameobi, who like Chopra came through the Newcastle academy, slightly ahead of his Black Cats counterpart, has endured similar frustrations, although he emerged from the doldrums with his first goal in two years in Monday night's 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

Chopra said: "I went for food with Shola the other day and I was speaking to him about the game on Saturday and winding him up.

"But I was pleased for him that he managed to get a goal because that's his first goal in a couple of years.

"I know he has had a lot of injuries, but it is always pleasing when you can get a goal."