It's a disgrace - Bellamy

Last updated : 07 October 2003 By Martyn Elliott

Bellamy’s contributions this season have been way below his best, and that to these eyes is the major reason that we’ve lacked the sparkle of last season going forward.

The Southampton game saw the best and worst of the Welshman’s talents, creating opportunities with his harrying, hard work and pace only to produce some dreadful finishing and crossing at crucial moments.

A confidence boosting display for Wales on Saturday could prove to be of major benefit to us.

Bellamy told the Press Association: "Where we are in the league at the moment is nothing short of a disgrace.

"We have not started the season too well, but we have a lot of good players. We are too good to be lingering where we are.

"My form is not as good as I would want. I have worked too hard and trained too hard to be satisfied with the way I have been playing.

"The injury has not helped, I had it last season and to start this season with the same problem was very disappointing. But it is something I have to live with, I have very rarely been pain free.

"I am used to it, but when things are not going too well you start looking for excuses.

"I do not worry about me knee, you cannot. It is such a short career and I want to achieve the best I can because there are so few years that you can play at this level.

"Form is something only you can put right. It is personal. You have a debt to yourself, to the name you wear on the back of your shirt, it is all down to how you play as an individual. You have to be responsible to yourself first, that is where it starts.

"If you are not playing well you have to pull yourself out of it, there is not much your manager can do. It is my debt to Newcastle."

All of which is amazingly honest, but of little use to us unless he can reproduce the form of his first 18 months at St James’ Park.