But after he cocked up Sunderland's best chance of the game ... some are starting to wonder if he's STILL a Geordie.None more so than former Mackem and chief Sunderland Echo godshite, Gary Rowell.
Rowell lives on the reputation of scoring a hat-trick at St James' Park, having done little else in his career, and has blasted Chopra for missing the chance to go down in Mackem history.
Gary Rowell: "The main talking point of the game was Cisse's replacement Michael Chopra and the opportunity to win the game that was fluffed in the final minutes.
"Let's call it The Chopra Incident.
"I've got to say that just when you think you've seen it all in the derby game, up comes a moment like that.
"Chops was bearing down on goal with just the keeper to beat - the sort of position every striker dreams of being in - but just as you thought he might look to slot it around Steve Harper, he refused the shot altogether, chose the harder option of trying to find Kenwyne Jones and overhit his pass completely.
"It was hard to take in, when it happened.
"It seemed inexplicable that he'd passed up the opportunity.
"Now let me say that I don't subscribe to the viewpoint that he didn't take the shot because he was a Tynesider and didn't want to score against Newcastle.
I just don't.
"I don't know what went through Michael's head at that moment. Maybe even he doesn't.
"But I would bet that not five minutes has gone by since that moment that he hasn't thought about it.
"What I would say on the subject, is that there are certain moments that come along in a footballer's career, certain opportunities, that he has to take.
"They don't come along very often and when they do, they are invariably career-defining.
"Five minutes to go in a passionately-fought derby, the chance to be a hero, the chance to be celebrated and talked about for years to come and Chopra froze.
"He blew it.
"No matter how you dress it up, there's no getting away from the fact that opportunity knocked for him big style and he blew it.
"Once those moments are gone, they're gone. And it wouldn't surprise me if it was to haunt him for years to come."
NEWS FROM CARDIFF ...
Cardiff have completed a dramatic deadline-day swoop to bring Michael Chopra back to south Wales from Sunderland.The striker, who moved to the Stadium of Light from Cardiff back in 2007, enjoyed a prolific loan spell back in the Welsh capital earlier this season where he scored five goals in 11 appearances.
Cardiff boss Dave Jones has now secured the 25-year-old's services until the end of the season, when the Bluebirds will decide whether to take up an option to buy.