Bellamy may be fit to face Real Mallorca

NEWCASTLE striker Craig Bellamy has put himself in with a chance of returning to action in tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup clash with Real Mallorca.

The 24-year-old striker limped out of United’s last game against Valerenga at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening at half-time after feeling a tightness in his hamstring.

The club’s medics have been working ever since on the injury, and although they are delighted with the progress the Welshman is making, manager Bobby Robson is taking nothing for granted.

However, Bellamy has returned to training and has a genuine, if not 100%, chance of making the squad for a game which has assumed major proportions for his club’s season.

Midfielders Kieron Dyer and Darren Ambrose are also battling back from hamstring problems but, while Ambrose is leading the way, Dyer is facing the toughest fight, and Robson is cautious but optimistic.

“All three players remain under treatment, but all are making good progress,” said the 71-year-old. “However, it is too early in the week to know when they will be available for selection again.”

Bellamy’s latest injury came as a blow after a long and gruelling rehabilitation process following a fifth bout of knee surgery, but a relatively minor problem has not dented his delight at his form since returning to first team action.

The stg£6 million signing scored four times in as many starts inside 18 days last month before his setback against Valerenga, and is confident that there is much more to come.

“To be honest, my comeback has gone better than expected and as far as my knee is concerned, I feel great,” he said. “I feel in really good shape. I didn’t want to come back not fit. I wanted to make a difference straight away because I cannot handle 52,000 Geordies having a go at me because I’m not fit.

“I feel stronger now than I was before my knee operation and that is important because the strength in your legs is where you get your pace from.” Robson would dearly love to have Bellamy’s pace at his disposal tomorrow with Spanish legend Juan Angel Nadal the man his strikers will have to get past if they are to take a lead into the second leg.

The 37-year-old has a wealth of experience, but would not relish the task of having to keep tabs on one of the fastest frontmen in the Barclaycard Premiership.

Robson was in the crowd at the Nou Camp on Sunday when Mallorca staged a late rally to claw back two goals but still go down 3-2 to Barcelona, and was an interested spectator at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium last night, running the rule over Sunday’s league opponents Tottenham.