WALES manager Mark Hughes last night lit the blue touch paper that could ignite yet another club v country row involving Craig Bellamy.

The Newcastle United striker only made his return to first-team duty at Birmingham on Saturday - playing the final 15 minutes - after a four month absence following knee surgery.

But Hughes yesterday named Bellamy in the Wales squad for the friendly against Scotland at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium a fortnight tomorrow.

Hughes says he is prepared to let Bellamy make his own decision over when he rekindles his international career, but if the 24-year-old is persuaded to play then he risks the wrath of both his club manager and chairman.

At the weekend Sir Bobby Robson warned of the "balloon going off" if his speedy frontman again returned from international duty injured following the problems encountered back in October. Bellamy returned from the game against Serbia & Montenegro last year complaining of soreness in his knee. Two weeks later he was in America for career saving surgery.

But Hughes insisted he discussed the matter with both Robson and Bellamy yesterday morning before announcing his squad.

Hughes said: "Sir Bobby wanted to know when the game was and we discussed how Craig had done at the weekend.

"I have been able to ask Mark Bowen, the Birmingham coach who worked for us, how Craig did and he said he was first class.

"Sir Bobby confirmed that. The lad feels the knee is as strong as it has ever been. He has a reserve game this week, we certainly will wait and see and not push it."

Bellamy played the full 90 minutes in the reserves 1-1 draw at Liverpool last night as he bids to get match fit. He recently suggested he did not want to play for his country until September's World Cup qualifiers, and Hughes added: "It has to be Craig's decision.

"He feels he has lost a lot of club football. He may feel he needs more games, so if we can help him we will do that.

"But the decision has to be Craig's. If he is playing well he is one of those people who is happiest out on the field.

"If we can help with his rehabilitation obviously we will do that, but if he is not comfortable with it in his own mind, I will not have a problem with that."

Shola Ameobi bagged a last minute leveller to give United a point in last night's draw against Liverpool's second string.

United fell behind on 75 minutes when Danny Murphy found the net with a curling effort from the edge of the box, but Ameobi popped up in the 90th minute with a well taken equaliser. United fielded a strong side with Bellamy and Ameobi joined by Hugo Viana and Lee Bowyer.

There was a scare for Bellamy in the second half when he went down in a heap following a challenge from Igor Biscan, but he continued after treatment and set up the equaliser for Ameobi.

Newcastle United: Caig, Griffin, Elliott, Brittain (Chopra 78), Taylor, Bramble, Kerr, Viana, Ameobi, Bellamy, Bowyer. Subs (not used): Bartlett, Ferrell, Gate.