Source: Daily_Mail
City own up over Bellamy as AWOL Wales captain skips Montenegro test
Manchester City have admitted they forgot to notify the Football Association of Wales that Craig Bellamy would not be travelling with the squad to Montenegro.
Instead the striker is remaining at home after suffering a reaction to a knee injury following the victory against Celtic in a friendly on Saturday.
City, however, did not tell relate the information to the governing body until today, leaving officials bemused at Bellamy's non-appearance.
In a statement, the club said: 'Craig Bellamy is continuing his fitness and rehabilitation work following a knee injury.
'He suffered a reaction following Saturday's game against Celtic and is therefore unavailable to represent Wales in this week's friendly against Montenegro.
'Craig's situation should have been communicated to the Football Association of Wales over the weekend, but a misunderstanding on the process meant this was regrettably not done until today.
'Manchester City have now made contact with the Football Association of Wales to clarify the situation.'
Bellamy now misses Wales' friendly in Montenegro on Wednesday, but the FA of Wales were originally confused as to why their captain was missing.
The striker was due to arrive at the team hotel in Cardiff on Sunday night before jetting off the Montenegro today (Monday) but
the FAW have had no contact with the player or the club.
John Toshack and his squad left for Cardiff airport without their skipper sparking a potential club versus country row.
An FAW spokesman said: 'The player and club were notified about the game some while ago, but last night we had not heard from either the player or the club.
'The same applies to this morning, we just hope the player is all right.'
City boss Mark Hughes said last week that he was unhappy that Bellamy was in the Wales squad for Wednesday's match in Podgorica, claiming that his recovery from a knee injury was not complete and he could not handle three games in a week.
Bellamy played against Celtic on Saturday and scored the winner in a 2-1 victory at Eastlands.
The former West Ham and Newcastle striker has not played for his country since the February 1-0 defeat by Poland. He was unfit for the March games against Finland and Germany.
This is another blow to hit Wales this weekend, with Carl Fletcher announcing his retirement from international football, and Wolves midfielder David Edwards pulling out with a groin injury.
Cardiff's Joe Ledley, who has suffered from sickness this weekend and came off at half-time in the Bluebird's 4-0 victory over Scunthorpe on Saturday, is fit to travel.
