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Former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra fears manager Rafa Benitez could leave for pastures new if the club are relegated from the Premier League. Newcastle face the prospect of being relegated on Wednesday night if Sunderland beat Everton at the Stadium of Light, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.Chopra, who also had a two-year spell at Sunderland, ending in 2009, is worried Newcastle may struggle in the Championship with the players they have, especially if Benitez departs. Asked if he thought Benitez will leave if Newcastle are relegated, Chopra told Sky Sports News HQ: You would think that because other teams will be looking at him.People forget he was Real Madrid manager this time last year but Id like to see him stay if they get relegated because he is a great manager, and if he did stay I believe they would come straight back up. Chopra played 29 games for Newcastle including a Champions League tie against Barcelona in 2002 But if he goes I think they may struggle in the Championship because they dont have the type of players they had last time they went down in 2009. They dont have Kevin Nolan, the Joey Barton, or Andy Carroll; players that know about the Championship and players that are ready to fight for the football club. Chopra - Newcastle appointed Benitez too late There are too many foreign players where you wonder if theyll want to go to Cardiff on a Tuesday night or Brentford on a Wednesday night when its pouting down with rain. Those sorts of players wont want to do that so if they go down its not looking good for them. Chopra has questioned why fan-favourite Benitez was not brought in sooner Newcastle academy graduate Chopra, who went to the same school as Alan Shearer, is surprised the board did not act quicker to replace Steve McClaren when it became apparent a relegation battle was looming.They did it a few years ago when they appointed Alan Shearer as manager with eight games to go, and they knew they were in a position with probably 15 games to go that they were in a relegation fight, he added. Chopra turned out for the Sachin Tendulkar co-owned Kerala Blaster in the inaugural Indian Super League I dont know why the board and everyone left it so late to appoint Rafa and you look at what hes done, what hes done to the defence and the team and how hes got them playing.The fans love him and its a shame he hasnt had more time to do it because I believe coming into the last few games of the season they would have been firmly out of the relegation battle if he had been appointed earlier. Chopra - Newcastle appointed Benitez too late Chopra played with Jermain Defoe in Englands youth ranks and admits the Sunderland strikers form makes him a candidate to be named in Roy Hodgsons England squad on Thursday.Ive known Jermain since I was 15 years old, said Chopra who counts Cardiff, Ipswich and Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters among his former clubs. Chopra thinks Jermain Defoe must be in contention for Englands Euro 2016 squad I played with him from England U16s right through to the U21s and you knew then that if you give him a chance he will stick it in the back of the net.Newcastle dont have a 10 or 20-goal-a-season goalscorer whereas Sunderland do and that could be the difference between Sunderland staying up and Newcastle going down.I think Roy [Hodgson] has to look at him because he will be looking at players who are in form come the end of the season. Andros Townsend has been unbelievable for Newcastle says Chopra Another player Id like to see go is Andros Townsend. The last few weeks and months hes been unbelievable for Newcastle and if England want to go places theyve got to take in-form players.But Roy knows the game inside-out and he will have his own thinking. Defoe has been in and out of England squads his whole career and like I said before, give him a chance and hell stick it away. If England need him, hell do a job for them. Also See: Benitez rues missed chances Newcastle on brink after draw Allardyce: Defoe for England Borini aims to seal safety early Cheap Air Max 2019 . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Air Max 2019 Cheap Sale . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. http://www.airmax2019cheap.com/ .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Air Max 2019 Clearance Sale . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Cheap Air Max 2019 Wholesale . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. CLEVELAND -- The Browns have waived quarterback Connor Shaw, who started Clevelands 2014 season finale.Signed as an undrafted free agent after a stellar career at South Carolina, Shaw missed last season with a right thumb injury sustained in the teams exhibition opener. He underwent surgery and was placed on injured reserve in September.Because of injuries to Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel, the 24-year-old Shaw was forced to start the Browns last game in 2014 against Baltimore. Despite limited practice time, the thhird-stringer showed poise while playing with a bruised kidney in a 20-10 loss to the playoff-bound Ravens.ddddddddddddWith Shaw gone, the Browns have four quarterbacks on their roster: Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Austin Davis and rookie Cody Kessler. Griffin, released this winter by Washington, is expected to be named the teams starter by new coach Hue Jackson during training camp. ' ' '