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CARDIFF CITY striker Michael Chopra says he has the blessing of Bluebirds boss Dave Jones to play for India.
But Chopra could still be a crucial new year absentee when Cardiff have important Championship and FA Cup matches.
Chopra wants to play for India in the Asian Games and is hoping to appear in three qualifying matches in January.
But the schedule of back-to-back games, coupled with travel and time zone issues, would mean him almost certainly having to miss three Cardiff games.
Two are in the Championship, away to Norwich and at home to Watford, and the other will be in the third round of the FA Cup.
Chopra could actually miss more games, depending on when India manager Bobby Houghton would expect his players to be in camp to prepare.
“I’ve discussed the matter with the manager (Jones) and he’s quite happy for me to do it.
“Obviously Cardiff are going to have some important games at that time, but it’s an opportunity I can’t really turn down and one I don’t want to miss.”
Chopra travelled to Dubai this week for talks with Houghton about throwing his lot in with India.
He watched the team lose to Kuwait in Abu Dhabi, but flies back to prepare for City’s Championship clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday so misses India’s second game with the United Arab Emirates.
Chopra played for England Under-21s, but qualifies for India through his Asian roots.
He said: “When I first came to Cardiff a few years ago we played in Canada against an Indian national side.
“They tried to get me to play for them then, but I was only 22, very young and it would have been a massive change for me to pursue it then.”
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