NEWCASTLE manager Sir Bobby Robson has been the victim of a vicious hate campaign from angry Wales fans after he prevented Craig Bellamy representing his country in Azerbaijan yesterday.

Robson, who will receive his knighthood at Buckingham Palace today, has been villified in the Valleys for withdrawing Bellamy from the Wales squad for the Euro 2004 qualifier.

The 69-year-old branded a section of Welsh supporters that fired off a torrent of furious missives "unbelievably rude" after the St James' Park fax machine came close to meltdown this week.

Bellamy, who Robson revealed last night is expected to sign a lucrative new contract shortly, is currently restricted to just one game a week after suffering a recurrence of his long-standing knee injury.

But Welsh fans bombarded Robson with angry messages after denying Mark Hughes the chance to pick the 22-year-old striker who scored the winning goal in last month's momentous Millennium Stadium win over Italy.

Robson said: "We've had some unbelievably rude faxes from some people. But they don't know the facts and they shouldn't be wasting our time.

"We've had faxes from people crucifying us and I can understand their frustration.

"But Craig isn't fit and he can't play. You don't travel if you're not fit, it's as simple as that.

"I got Kieron Dyer fit so he could play World Cup football in the summer. That wasn't to my advantage but I did it.

"I was an England manager and I know the importance of international football. To say there's a club v country row involving Newcastle is nonsense.

"Did I stop Gary Speed, Hugo Viana, Kieron Dyer, Shay Given, Jermaine Jenas, Shola Ameobi, Nikos Dabizas or other players going away with their country? Did I stop Alan Shearer playing for England?

"Craig was out for seven months, and recently he's been out for another three-and-a-half weeks.

"It's cost us several thousand pounds to get him fit again, and he can only play in one match per week until his knee settles down.

"Mark Hughes has my sympathy, and I'd have loved him to have had Craig Bellamy.

"We hope to get Craig Bellamy fit for the next Wales match, and he'll go with our pleasure."

Robson reckons Bellamy will put pen to paper on a new deal soon, even though his present contract will not expire until June 2005.

The £6m striker is keen to stay on Tyneside and Robson said: "There have been talks for some time between the club and Craig and his agent.

"The club were right to wait for Craig to show he was going to be fully fit, and he is right to want the best deal he can get.

"But we've told Craig that the future here is pretty good. It's a young squad and he's seen the players we're in the market for. I know Newcastle want Craig, and I'm sure Craig wants Newcastle."

Hugo Viana should be fit for next Wednesday's prestigious Champions League clash with Internazionale after it emerged his knee injury is less serious than first feared.

Robson said: "We don't think he'll make it for Saturday but he has more than a good chance of playing on Wednesday."

Meanwhile Newcastle last night rejected Coventry's attempt to sign Carl Cort on loan.