CITY CAN CHOP US APART; Ex-Bluebird Thompson puts high-flying Clarets on red alert.

Byline: Terry Phillips

BLUEBIRDS old boy Steve Thompson has warned his Burnley team-mates: "Watch out - there's a Chopra about."

Scottish international Thompson is now a key player for play-off hopefuls Burnley and the Clarets have only lost twice in 16 Championship matches when the big striker has been playing.

The Lancashire club are also in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup but Thompson has put his colleagues on red alert for Cardiff City's Turf Moor trip tonight (7.45pm).

"Michael Chopra is special," said Thompson, who left Cardiff for Burnley three months ago.

"He's a player of rare quality and we had a great six or seven months playing together for Cardiff.

"Chops is a highly-intelligent player and someone we need to watch carefully.

"His movement in particular is very clever, and Cardiff have a lot of players like that.

"Ross McCormack is similar to Chops in many ways, but then Cardiff have a number of players of genuine quality.

"They are in a strong position like ourselves and very much looking at the play-offs."

Thompson and Bluebirds boss Dave Jones failed to see eye-to-eye on several occasions during the Scot's near three-year stay in Cardiff.

But the striker - who scored 17 goals in 74 starts for the Bluebirds - believes City are heading in the right direction.

"With the new stadium and training ground in Cardiff it's a big year for them and they're looking to shoot themselves into the Premier League," he said.

"They are making a push and they do have the quality to be a top-six team, without a doubt.

"It will be a real battle at our place."

Burnley v City latest: pages 46&47

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WARNING: Steve Thompson says City striker Michael Chopra can spoil the Burnley party