Curbishley says Bellamy can become Upton Park legend

WEST HAM manager Alan Curbishley has admitted he initially underestimated the talents of Craig Bellamy – a player he now believes can become an Upton Park legend.

The £7.5m summer recruit from Liverpool has three goals to his name after netting the first in the Hammers’ comprehensive dismantling of Reading at the Madejski Stadium, where they had been thrashed 6-0 last season.

The Welshman had been a doubt before the game with a groin problem, but was still too quick for the home defence when he opened the scoring in the sixth minute, with Matthew Etherington adding two more in the second half.

Curbishley revealed that Bellamy had needed plenty of persuading to come to a club that had almost been relegated last term, but insisted the forward had exceeded expectations.

Reading attacked relentlessly and forced corner after corner, but were constantly caught on the counter-attack to the horror of manager Steve Coppell, who described their defensive display as “naive” and “without structure”.

The Royals – who now find themselves in the bottom three – also passed up an opportunity to get back into the game at 2-0 when Ireland’s Kevin Doyle saw his penalty smartly saved by Robert Green and Curbishley believes his goalkeeper must receive an England recall sooner or later.

Curbishley made two deadline-day signings to boost an injury-hit squad with Nolberto Solano joining from Newcastle and Henri Camara leaving Wigan on loan.

He said: “Solano can play anywhere on the right wing and Camara, whenever he has played against us, has been a threat. Somewhere along the line he has lost his way so we will see what he can do for us.”

Coppell did not make major changes to his squad, sending winger Seol Ki-Hyeon off to Fulham in exchange for England Under-21 defender Liam Rosenior, but wished he had as he pondered how to pep up a side that has suffered two straight 3-0 defeats. The former Crystal Palace manager was glad to be rid of South Korea international Seol – a club record buy at the start of last term. He said: “It has been obvious for some time that he wanted to move on. I would have loved him to stay, but only if he was fully committed to us and I don’t think he would have been. I had to make a decision and a decision has been made.

“Rosenior was at a dead end there and was part of an exchange offer put to us. He’s an U21 defender and can add to what we have.”

Did you know?: Craig Bellamy has scored more goals away than at home for his various Premier League clubs (27 home, 28 away).

Did you know?: Reading have only won one of their last seven Premier League matches.