Ben Turner and Cardiff City know all about the threats posed by Michael Chopra

The Ipswich striker goes into today’s match against his old club Cardiff City on the back of his most consistent form since his surprise move in the summer.

But while acknowledging the threat posed by Chopra, City defender Ben Turner said the Bluebirds will only be focusing on their own game at Portman Road this afternoon.

Of Chopra, Turner said: “Obviously he’s a good player, he’s a proven goalscorer. He scored against us earlier in the season so we need to keep an eye on him.

“Even when he’s having a poor game he can just pop up and score – he’s a bit like Kevin Phillips in that respect. That’s why he’s had such a good career at the level he has because he’s proved he can score goals.

“You don’t make special plans for him. He pops up and scores goals, but you can’t play your game too much around him. You can’t think of one man’s goalscoring record, you’ve just got to mark him like any other man.”

And with 13 places separating the two sides – Cardiff slipped to fourth after Reading’s 1-0 win over Burnley last night – Turner admits he expected Ipswich to be challenging this season.

He explained: “I am surprised they are not higher up the table. They’ve got a very strong squad and they are set up to be higher than they are. Maybe they are just starting to show that.

“They seem to be putting it together now and they have gone on a nice little run. I don’t know if it’s too late for them this season, it probably is, but they could be a team for next season.”

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay, who has an incredible unbeaten record against Town as player and manager, added: “Ipswich are a club who have invested heavily this season with a lot of experience and in last couple of weeks they’ve shown they’re a good side, beating the leaders 5-1.

“Portman Road has never been an easy place for sides to go. They’re on a good run with some good players so it’s a dangerous game for us.”