Bellamy Disappointed

By Matthew Jones
December 20 2004

Welsh striker Craig Bellamy picked up a recurrence of his back injury whilst warming up pre-match on Saturday and was extremely disappointed to miss the game. Bellamy was named in the starting XI when the official team-sheets were handed out only an hour before the game, but Patrick Kluivert emerged from the tunnel instead - despite being given a bench role.

However, it was a back problem picked up in the midweek UEFA Cup tie with Sporting Lisbon which had flared up again, which put Bellamy out of the game.

Quoted on the Official site, Bellamy said:

"I tried to give it a go because I thought it would be all right.

"I have been all right walking around and sleeping but it was all so different when I found I had to run and twist and turn.

"I literally couldn't move and I knew it was hopeless. What I did not want to do was to let the rest of the lads and the fans down by going out there and finding that I had to come off a couple of minutes after the start.

"But at least I have a full week before we go to Blackburn Rovers next Sunday and there should be no worries."

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