Wonder-kid Michael Chopra has been tipped to take the football world by storm.

Newcastle United's talented 18-year-old, who grabbed two goals for England Under 20s against Italy on Wednesday night, has yet to make his Premiership debut but he is already regarded as a future star.

Les Reed, the Under 20s coach, is convinced Chopra has got the mentality to go all the way.

"He can go as far as he wants to go," said Reed, who has had the likes of Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas and Michael Owen under his wing.

"I don't normally say that about anybody. Bobby Robson has treated him very well at Newcastle - he could not have a better role model than Alan Shearer and he has got Peter Beardsley working with him.

"Therefore Michael has got a lot of advantages. He has got natural ability and an understanding of the game.

"Becoming an England player means doing that little bit extra. Stopping behind on the training field for ten minutes more, just something like that. If Michael does that I think he has got the talent to go all the way.

"We've known each other since Michael was about 14 and from the first day he walked into the camp he showed me something special.

"His anticipation is absolutely fantastic. If you watch him in training our lads don't like marking him because his movement is brilliant, he's an opportunist and he's shown at Newcastle he will score lots of goals."

"He is very level-headed and he always works hard for the team."

Chopra has had to bide his time at club level, as Shearer and Craig Bellamy have forged such an exciting partnership up front.

The former Gosforth High School pupil insists he knows he has to be patient, but he would love nothing more than to strut his stuff on the Premiership stage.

"I am desperate to play in the top-flight but I've made my breakthrough already," said Chopra, who made his debut in the Worthington Cup against Everton.

"If you look at Alan Shearer he had to wait, so I'm just the same. Hopefully my turn will come sooner rather than later."

Chopra netted twice in the 5-3 defeat, but the runner-up of the Sony Under 18 Asian Sportsperson of the Year Award was left frustrated.

"I am pleased with my goals," he said. "I would rather the team had won than me score. I liked both of my goals, but probably the header was the one if prefer because I don't score many headers."