Sport

Chopra leaves troubles off pitch and lifts Keane's mood

Sunderland 2 Middlesbrough 0 : ROY KEANE is not into dispensing tea and sympathy, but Sunderland's manager has made an exception…

LOUISE TAYLOR at The Stadium of Light
Mon Sept 22 2008 - 01:00

Sunderland 2 Middlesbrough 0: ROY KEANE is not into dispensing tea and sympathy, but Sunderland's manager has made an exception for Michael Chopra.

Recently returned from addressing "lifestyle issues" in Tony Adams' Sporting Chance clinic, Chopra - who got off the bench to score both goals - is being counselled by an unusually understanding manager. "I had a very questionable lifestyle, to say the least," admitted Keane. "Hopefully Chops can learn from my mistakes - or he's heading for trouble."

The former Manchester United captain's road to Damascus moment came when he ended his love affair with alcohol and the attendant, sometimes aggressive, nights on the town.

"I did stop drinking," Keane said. Asked if he had resumed, the Irishman replied "No," before making light of the matter and answering a question about the difficulties of turning teetotal with a joke. "No, it was easy," he said. "Well, everyone else was pleased. And they tell me it's all right; once you get used to it."

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If Chopra, whose marriage has been under strain, is facing different demons - his problems are alleged to embrace relationship issues, gambling and anger - Keane can still empathise. "It's not just drink, players get their heads turned by others things," he said. "I'm sure there's lots of drugs out there nowadays, there's lots of women available. They get their heads turned by nightclubs, mates, agents, by too many late nights. I'm not saying that's the case with Chops but if you want to be a top player you've got to have the off-field side sorted. With myself, the penny eventually dropped that there was stuff I couldn't keep on doing."

Betrayed by a lack of ruthless finishing, Gareth Southgate's side missed a penalty when Stewart Downing miscued from 12 yards following Nyron Nosworthy's adjudged foul on Jeremie Aliadiere.

Doing ruthless has never worried Keane though, and he had little compunction in hauling off the disappointing Djibril Cisse and El Hadji Diouf and replacing his "stars" with Daryl Murphy and Andy Reid.

Reid combined with Kieran Richardson to tee up Chopra's 81st-minute opener. The striker cleverly lured Ross Turnbull off his line and calmly directed his shot into the bottom corner. Chopra's second, a tap-in after Malbranque squared Murphy's deflected shot his way, came in stoppage time, added extra sheen to an uplifting redemption tale.

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