Michael Chopra has pleaded with Sunderland boss Roy Keane to play him up front.

The 24-year-old striker has been asked to fill in on the right wing during a tough season that has seen him score only three goals. But the summer signing from Cardiff hopes Keane will give him a run in his favoured position as the club battles to stave off relegation.

“I was delighted when the manager told me I was starting up front against Wigan in the last match,” Chopra told the Sunderland Echo.

“But then Roy O’Donovan went off in the first 15 minutes and I could see Rade Prica warming up on the side of the pitch. I was thinking ‘Oh, please don’t put me on the right wing’.

“I’ll play anywhere in the team as long as I’m playing, but I would like to play up front more times than not because that’s my preferred position and that’s where I think I do myself justice.

“But if the manager needs me to do a job on the right or the left, I’ll be happy to do that.”