Dyer pulled from England game

By Matthew Jones
September 3 2002

Kieron Dyer has been pulled out of England's friendly with Portugal with a recurrence of the shin splints problem which plagued him last term.

Kieron Dyer has been pulled out of England's friendly with Portugal with a recurrence of the shin splints problem which plagued him last term.

Dyer was again in pain after Newcastle's 2-2 draw at Anfield on Monday night and will not be risked by Sven Goran Eriksson at Villa Park on Saturday.
Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson said: "We are withdrawing Kieron from the squad and informing the FA as he has had a recurrence of shin splints.'

"I can't see him being fit for Saturday. He needs soft grounds.

"When he runs he is all right. But when he starts to walk he has intense pain and suffers spasms."
Meanwhile, Robson has asked Wales boss Mark Hughes not to play Craig Bellamy this weekend.

The Newcastle boss gave his young striker a 26-minute appearance at Anfield, but Robson believes the long-term injury victim needs more match fitness before he should be considered for his country.

Bellamy sped off after the match at Anfield - along with clubmate Gary Speed - to join the Welsh training party ahead of Saturday's European Championship qualifier in Finland.

"Craig's played 20 minutes in seven months and he's nowhere near ready for an international," added Robson.

"If he goes to link up with his country and comes back injured, my chairman would go ballistic.
"We've told Craig and the Welsh FA that he's simply not fit. Until he is, I'm sending him to Morecambe, where he will play for the reserves."