Emigre wrote:
I'm with Hughes on this one. After reading that i can't wait to see Bellamy running at the Newcastle defence.
City to see the best of Bellamy
Mark Hughes is confident that City fans will get to see the best of Craig Bellamy once he makes his debut for the Blues.
Manager and player have this week been reunited after two previous stints together at both club and international level, following the striker's move from West Ham earlier this week.
Craig flew out to Tenerife to join the rest of the City squad after completing his transfer, and the Manager already thinks he will be working with a player improved on their last pairing at Ewood Park.
"I have worked with Craig for many years," says Mark, "I understand his personality and I have great respect for his ability.
"Having spoken to him since he arrived here, we are getting a better player than the one I worked with before. He scored a lot of goals in one season for me at Blackburn, and scored some great goals for me with Wales as well.
"Now he is fit and well, at Blackburn he had some injury problems and at times we had to monitor the intensity of the training he did.
"The Craig Bellamy we have in front of us does not have any of those problems, he's stronger than ever and that is why he is such an outstanding player.
"The moment he gets the ball and goes past a player, people will understand why I wanted to bring him here."
The Manager also asserts that Craig is a much-changed character to the one he has worked with in the past, and he adds:
"He has matured as a person. He's a winner, he wants to be the best he can be. He is demanding of himself, demanding of the staff he works with and of his team mates. That is not a bad trait to have, I encourage it because I think that players of that ilk are good for your club."
Think West Ham will feel a tad (more) cheated then. How many games did he manage for them? 12 or so?
What miracle has happened since he signed for us that's made him less brittle?