SIR BOBBY Robson has warned Welsh counterpart Mark Hughes not to expect an immediate return to international duty for fit-again striker Craig Bellamy.

Robson spoke of serious repercussions and, 'the balloon going off' if Bellamy returned for Wales upcoming friendlies and then picked up an injury playing for his country.

Robson, and his chairman Freddy Shepherd, were both incensed when the £6m signing returned injured from a game against Serbia & Montenegro in October last year.

Bellamy was back on first team duty at Birmingham on Saturday after a four month absence following knee surgery to cure a recurring tendinitis problem.

He recently stated he will postpone any international return until September - the start of World Cup qualification - to dedicate himself to helping Newcastle chase both a Champions League spot and the UEFA Cup.

But Hughes will undoubtedly be keen to have his speedy front runner back sooner rather than later as he prepares for the upcoming qualifiers for Germany 2006.

His release for the friendly against Scotland in a fortnight appears a non-starter, but the Football Association of Wales will arrange more games ahead of their first qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland in September.

Bellamy would find it difficult to turn down a direct approach from his international manager, but Robson warned: "If we send him on international duty and he comes back injured then the balloon will go off.

"We'll have to look at it. We'll have to look at how many games he's played before the Wales friendlies.

"We have to look at it to be fair to Wales and to be fair to Craig Bellamy, and to be fair to our football club for who he hasn't played for five months."

Bellamy played just a quarter of an hour at St Andrew's, but in that time demonstrated just what Newcastle have been missing.

His incisive running was a constant menace to the Birmingham defence and he created a great chance for fellow substitute Hugo Viana, but the Portuguese international just failed to get on the end of his cross.

Robson, however, wasn't getting carried away, and revealed it will back to reserve team duty tonight as the Welshman looks to regain his match fitness.

Newcastle's second string travel to the north west for a game against Liverpool Reserves, with Robson hoping Bellamy can complete another 90 minutes.

Robson said: "Craig Bellamy has been out for almost five months.

"He's a big player and it's nice to have such a big player back.

"We have monitored his recovery for 16 weeks now. He's still not match fit and he'll play in a reserve match on Monday to sharpen him up."

The Newcastle manager did, however, admit his injury has left a huge hole in Newcastle's attacking options, and the Magpies do not possess an adequate replacement.

He said: "Shola Ameobi's played up there and Kieron Dyer has played up front. Kieron Dyer is not a natural goalscorer in that position and to have Bellamy back in again gives us another dimension.

"It's great to have him back because he is a gem of a player.

His return was also welcomed by his teammates, as Jermaine Jenas revealed.

"Craig Bellamy coming back showed us what a difference he makes," said Jenas.

"We've coped well without him but we've missed him. There's only been a few times when he's looked down about things but we've all been there to help cheer him up. He can help us to start winning games and we have to do that."

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