NEWCASTLE United have put the brakes on Craig Bellamy's fitness drive by pulling him out of their pre-season tour of Holland, writes Clive Hetherington.

The Wales striker, who underwent keyhole knee surgery for tendinitis in May, was omitted from the 25-man party which flew to Amsterdam yesterday.

PFA Young Player of the Year Bellamy is making steady progress with his recovery.

But United boss Sir Bobby Robson refused to risk him on the four-game Dutch trip with the first leg of his side's Champions' League qualifier less than a month away.

Colorado-based specialist Richard Steadman, who a year earlier had saved the career of Alan Shearer when the Newcastle skipper was suffering a similar condition, has mapped out Bellamy's rehabilitation programme and he will continue to work under physio Paul Ferris while his teammates are away. A club spokesman said: "After the success of Alan Shearer's operation, we're following Richard Steadman's advice to the letter. We will not break Steadman's law.''

United launch their ten-day tour tomorrow night with a game against amateur side FC Capelle. They face De Tabanters Enschede on Monday, before taking on GVVV Veenendaal on Wednesday and Udi'19 Beter Ben a week today.

Robson, a former PSV Eindhoven coach, said: "We've got four matches against Dutch amateur sides, but I know the scene over there and they'll give us a game.

"The players have had a long break for about six or seven weeks now, and while we've had a couple of games amongst ourselves these are the matches that build the fitness up.

"There's no pressure on us, they will just give us the opportunity to get back into the swing of things.

"When we get back we've got competitive games with Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Barcelona then the Champions' League game, so we've got plenty of time to prepare for the new season."

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