Wales worry over Bellamy
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Article summary
Welsh international Craig Bellamy is set to miss the Group 9 qualifiers against Italy and Finland.
Article body
Long wait
Wales are hoping to qualify for their first major tournament since the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden. They lead EURO 2004™ qualifying Group 9, two points ahead of Italy, but can ill afford to be without Bellamy for the top-of-the-table clash in Milan on 6 September, nor for the Finland game in Cardiff four days later.
Stubborn swelling
Bellamy, who scored the winning goal when Wales beat Italy 2-1 in Cardiff last October, suffered a knee injury in the 1-0 qualifying defeat by Serbia and Montenegro last week - and the swelling has refused to go down.
Robson advice
The 24-year-old missed Newcastle's UEFA Champions League elimination by FK Partizan on Wednesday and has been told to rest for three weeks. Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson said: "Craig has to have the necessary time to get his knee right so that he can enjoy the rest of the season - even though Wales do have two important games."
