WHILE the doubters have questioned the spending of £11m on a relatively inexperienced Sunderland forward line, Michael Chopra insists his partnership with Kenwyne Jones can become Premier League class.

Jones' debut for the Black Cats was as a lone striker in the defeat at Manchester United 11 days ago, when Chopra was asked to make an impression as a right-midfielder.

But the £6m signing from Southampton will not be restricted to such a role when Reading visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday and his new Wearside colleague is hopeful he will be his strike partner.

Chopra has scored twice since his move from Cardiff City and the 23-year-old believes there was enough evidence from Jones at Old Trafford that suggested the two young forwards could forge a perfect understanding - reminiscent of a certain little and large combination a few years ago.

"Against other defences he will win the majority of headers and I have to get onto his flick-ons," said Chopra, who played against him in the Championship last season.

"I knew he was a big lad. He is a player who will give defences a hard time. He is a such a big powerful lad. He showed that against United and we have lacked his style.

"I'm a lad who gets in behind. We need a type of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips pairing, what they used to have at Sunderland. Hopefully I can bring that to this club again.

"The clubs I have been at have tried to put me alongside a big rock who will take all of the knocks. I like to do the easy things and putting the ball in the net. Taking the glory."

If Jones can enjoy the sort of impact Chopra did on his home debut - when he scored an injury-time winner against Tottenham - he will be satisfied come Saturday.

But the latter realises the recruitment of Cole has added further competition to a squad also boasting strikers Daryl Murphy, David Connolly, Anthony Stokes, Roy O'Donovan.

But, despite having seven strikers competing for two places, Chopra regards Andy Cole as an astute acquisition on a Bosman free.

"I grew up watching Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley together at Newcastle," said the former Magpies striker.

"To have Andy in training alongside you is fantastic. He is going to bring so much to my game.

"You just need to see some of the runs he does to pick up on is habits. Hopefully I can bring some of that into my game. I looked up to him.

"When we heard about him coming to the club I thought it was fantastic. People, might be right to say he is 35, but he is good to have around the dressing room and on the training pitch. We can all learn from him."

Sunderland defender Clive Clarke, on loan at Leicester, has revealed he feels much better after his recent double heart failure.

The 27-year-old collapsed and lost consciousness at half-time during the Foxes' Carling Cup clash at Nottingham Forest at the end of last month.

Paramedics twice had to use a defibrillator to restart his heart in the dressing room before Clarke regained consciousness. He said: "I feel all right.

"Obviously I am still not 100 per cent but I feel a hell of a lot better than I did two weeks ago. It was a hard couple of days afterwards, trying to understand what happened. Then obviously hearing from people in the room what happened. It was a bit surreal."