Source: Daily_Mail
Hughes confident that 'driven' Bellamy will have the answers
My new boys: MAnchester City boss Mark Hughes with Nigel de Jong and Craig Bellamy
‘Most Premier League managers will tell you the dressing-rooms are quiet, not like in our day. But the talk can’t always come from myself or the coaches. Players like Craig will say it as they see it, which is no bad thing. He’ll make his point.’
Bellamy is in line to make his City debut tonight at home to Newcastle, where he is remembered for a spectacular airport row with coach John Carver, during which a chair is said to have been thrown.
His time at Liverpool was also spiced up by him taking a golf club to team-mate John Arne Riise after they fell out at a karaoke session on a European trip, then chose an imaginary practice swing as his goal celebration at the Nou Camp.
Bellamy said: ‘I’m under no illusion about my image. If I ever write a book, which I won’t, it would be called Don’t Google Me. I come with a certain reputation, but my teammates must wonder what the fuss is.
‘I train hard, I give all I can. Maybe in the past I’ve gone down routes I shouldn’t.’
Hughes nursed Bellamy, 29, through an injury-plagued season at Blackburn but believes he is now at his strongest and added: ‘He’s older and with age comes experience and maturity. That’s evident in how he conducts himself now.’
Bellamy said: ‘I’m at my peak and mentally I feel good. I was enjoying life at West Ham - I don’t know where talk of a strike came from. I wanted to end my career there andbecome a fans’ favourite but the situation changed with the banks.
‘I sat down and thought about this move and realised I would regret it if I didn’t take this.’
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Meanwhile, Hughes made it clear that£34m signing Robinho is not exempt from club rules and has been fined around£200,000 for going AWOL from the Tenerife trainingcamp. ‘Robby will be treated the same as any player,’ said Hughes.
NEWCASTLE owner Mike Ashley is prepared to play hardball with Shay Given by blocking a move to Manchester City and insisting he plays against them tonight.
Following Ashley’s surprise appearance at the club’s training ground this week, manager Joe Kinnear has his backing to start the keeper at Eastlands even though City have bid£8million for him.
Former City midfielder Joey Barton is also likely to play tonight.
