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Craig Bellamy
Returning: Craig Bellamy

Craig ready to go to Hull and back

Ken Dyer, Football Correspondent
17 Oct 2008


Craig Bellamy is raring to start for West Ham on Sunday having survived his first full match for a year.

The Wales striker has endured a nightmare with injuries since his move from Liverpool in July 2007.

He had a four-month lay-off after arriving in London with an abdominal injury and then managed only a brief comeback before his season was ended in February by knee and groin problems.

Having been eased back by the Hammers this term with three substitute appearances, Bellamy finally completed a match on Wednesday when he captained Wales in their 1-0 defeat in Germany and he now wants to build on that performance, starting at Hull.

"It was my first 90 minutes in a year and it is brilliant to know that I am feeling great and ready to play on Sunday," said the 29year-old, who will replace David Di Michele in attack. "Maybe I need to be a bit sharper and a bit fitter. But that will come."

The Germany game saw James Collins make his first start for Wales for more than a year following knee surgery and he is likely to be on the bench for while Goalkeeper Robert Green should recover from a knee injury fit for the trip face a side who have beaten Arsenal, Tottenham and Fulham this season.

Hull boss Phil Brown said: "It would be nice to remain undefeated against London clubs. There has been a lot of speculation surrounding West Ham lately about boardroom unrest and things. They also have a new manager who is being tested at the highest level. Hopefully, we'll come out of the West Ham game with something in the bag."

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lets hope we can get a few wins in the bag ...then hope we can hold on to good players and get rid of the rest...

- Marky Mark, hertfordshire england, 17/10/2008 16:26
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