Bellamy may have to wait

NEWCASTLE striker Craig Bellamy may have to wait for a return to Barclaycard Premiership action despite successfully negotiating his comeback on Monday night.

The 24-year-old Welshman played a full 90 minutes for the reserves in their 0-0 draw with Everton and showed no ill-effects following a four-month lay-off after knee surgery. However, Saturday’s first-team trip to Birmingham may come just too soon for him as manager Bobby Robson refuses to take any risks with one of his most important players.

Bellamy has not appeared in a senior game since the 1-0 win over Southampton on October 4 and underwent surgery in the US later that month in a bid to solve his persistent problems once and for all.