Injury fears recede

Last updated : 12 February 2004 By Martyn Elliott

Woodgate was sorely missed at Ewood Park on Wednesday night, but Sir Bobby is confident that he’ll be available for the home game with Middlesbrough on February 21.

“We had a reaction from Jonathan Woodgate on Saturday against Leicester City," said Sir Bobby.


"There was an investigation by the surgeon in Manchester late Monday afternoon and he feels the repair to the hernia is fine.


"There is some scar tissue but he is fairly confident that's all. I don't believe we have too much of a problem with Jonathan Woodgate. The surgeon feels there's nothing untoward in it and hopefully it will settle down.”


Bellamy meanwhile is to undergo a scan on his knee after he was the victim of a scandalous tackle from Rovers’ Aussie hatchetman Lucas Neill. Remarkably the referee didn’t see fit to give a free-kick for the offence, but it has left the Welshman with doubts about his fitness for the Boro game.


"Craig Bellamy was the victim of an atrocious tackle at the corner flag, I've no doubt about it," added Sir Bobby.


"How the referee didn't see it I don't know.


"There's a certain amount of swelling around the knee, there's some slight concern about him. I don't think there's a lot of damage, but there's slight ligament damage and it's swelled up.


“I'm not even thinking about the Wales game. That's a million miles away as far as I'm concerned but I don't want to stop him having an international career.


“I'm going to speak to Mark Hughes and tell him the situation."