Chopra handed Port Vale trial

Port Vale are assessing the fitness of Michael Chopra ahead of a potential move to sign the former Premier League striker.

Chopra, who has scored goals in the top flight for Newcastle and Sunderland, has been training with the Valiants since Thursday after leaving Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters. Vale boss Rob Page has no doubt the 31-year-old still possesses quality but Chopra is short of fitness following his return to England. Page told The Sentinel: "There is no deal at the minute. He has been out in India playing and has come back. He needs to get fit so he has been in training with us so it is something we will be looking at. "Fitness is a factor with him at the minute. He has quality, you could see in training on Thursday that he still has an eye for goal and you never lose that quality. "He is a talented footballer and he is only 31. So, maybe if we can benefit from his experience and knowledge of the game, then we might look at it. "He will be with us again next week and then we will have a better idea." Sunderland paid Cardiff £5million for Chopra in 2007 before the Bluebirds bought him back from the Stadium of Light for £4million two years later. If Vale were to sign Chopra it would represent a coup for the League One side as the striker has mainly plied his trade at Championship level, having also played for Watford, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, Ipswich and Blackpool.