Bellamy Speaks About His Performances and Woodgate

By Matthew Jones
August 16 2004

Newcastle United striker Craig Bellamy feels that he must up his performance level this season for both club and country. He feels he must improve in order to keep hold of his first team place at St James' Park, as the likes of Patrick Kluivert and Shola Ameobi challenge for a place in the squad.

Bellamy on his game:

"We must not allow ourselves to be side-tracked by the England game because if we don't get off to a good start in the group we will end up going to Old Trafford to play England just looking for some pride and a one-off result against England.

"It won't matter much by then if we mess up the first two games.

"Azerbaijan will be tough out in Baku, and the Irish have improved a lot under Lawrie Sanchez. They have started to play one up front and a packed midfield because they were getting turned over so regularly.

"In some ways like us, and they have produced some good results against Spain and Greece - which shows they have progressed. But we have more than enough to see them off.

"If you are professional you won't get distracted but we would settle for six points against the first two and a draw against England.

"This has been the first full pre-season I have done for a few years. I feel really good, the best I have ever felt.

"I feel my game can go on to a higher level - it has to do with the strikers Newcastle have around these days. Patrick Kluivert is a wonderful player, and I will have to be really on top of my game to get into the side. I have to step up a gear. I aim to take my game to a higher level this season.''

Bellamy about Jonathon Woodgate:

"Jonathan has been out injured for some time but he is very near to a return now. In some ways I hope he stays injured for a few more weeks so he cannot get himself back into the England squad.

"Mind you, the quicker he is back for Newcastle the better, because we really miss him.

"I did not really realise what a great player he is until he actually joined Newcastle. You find out more about somebody when you train with them. Now he is at Newcastle I am seeing him every day in training and he is outstanding.

"He reads things so well, he is so quick, such a talent. I faced him at Leeds a couple of times a season and always felt he was good, now I know he is. He is so quick for a big lad and we desperately miss him.

"I must admit I do not really fancy facing him when we play England.

"I am not getting much stick yet from my English mates at Newcastle, because none of them are sure they are in the squad yet for the game against Wales in October - that is what I keep telling them anyway.

"I am sure I will start getting the flak a bit later, much nearer the game. But there is a lot of very important games for us before then and we know they are so much more important that dreaming about playing England."