Bellamy out for the Blues clash

By Matthew Jones
September 27 2002

The Newcastle boss was concerned about the fitness of Bellamy and Kieron Dyer - and felt that both could benefit from a rest to shake off shin and knee injuries respectively. Maybe is is best that Bellamy serves banned time in Europe during his injury.

Craig Bellamy has been ruled out of Saturday evening's showdown with Birmingham at St Andrews, after suffering a reaction to a knee injury.

The Newcastle boss was concerned about the fitness of Bellamy and Kieron Dyer - and felt that both could benefit from a rest to shake off shin and knee injuries respectively. Maybe is is best that Bellamy serves banned time in Europe during his injury, and hopefully he will be fully fit once he returns to action.

Robson is unlikely to send his team into battle without both, who have been told not to train since Tuesday night's home defeat to Feyenoord.
And with Bellamy out of action, Dyer looks set to start with Lomano LuaLua replacing the Wales man.

Elsewhere, Robson is unlikely to make any other changes from the side that lost in the Champions League in midweek