Bellamy Poised for Wales Return in Cyprus After Remarkable Recovery

Less than 24 hours after John Toshack expressed his amazement that Craig Bellamy might recover from last Thursday's groin surgery to play against San Marino next week, the Wales captain came through a training session yesterday morning and promptly brought forward his remarkable comeback to Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifying fixture in Cyprus, where he expects to lead his country.

Bellamy's place on the plane that landed in Cyprus late last night provided Wales with a major fillip for their two imminent qualifying fixtures. The Wales manager had dismissed Bellamy's chances of featuring against Cyprus in Nicosia - a match that will come only nine days after the West Ham United striker was operated on in Germany - and was highly circumspect about playing the striker in San Marino four days later, given the danger of risking further injury.

Toshack appears to be indebted to Dr Ulrike Muschaweck for the swift turnaround. The Munich surgeon, who also operated on Michael Owen to facilitate the England forward's return to first-team action at Newcastle only seven days after his operation, had predicated Bellamy would be fit to represent Wales in both matches, claiming "the operation was a major success and allows him to make a quick return to full activity" and adding "the risk for reinjury is next to zero".

This last comment will comfort Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, who said at the weekend that he empathized with the concerns that Sam Allardyce had expressed over Owen.

"I think by coming with us today he has showed that he quite fancies making it on Saturday. To have our captain back with us, particularly after his performance in the last game, gives us all a lift," said Toshack. "Michael Owen has been operated on and came on and scored with stitches still in and I haven't heard anything like that before. You just hope further down the line that they don't suffer because of it.

"Craig looked his usual bubbly self this morning and we just hope there is no reaction and that he can train with the team tomorrow and Friday, and we will take it from there. I think all the managers who have dealt with him from a Wales point of view will tell you that it takes a lot to stop him from being involved with his country. Hopefully, Craig can play some part in these two matches and that will help him when he gets back with West Ham."

Toshack can now breathe a sigh of relief, since he had been previously concerned at the paucity of his attacking options. Robert Earnshaw had played only 15 minutes of competitive football for Derby County since he featured for Wales against Germany last month, and Wycombe's Jermaine Easter and the Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Freddy Eastwood are also short of match practice after losing their places at club level.

Bellamy admitted: "I am not surprised at all that I am ready to play. I had the operation on Thursday and was doing training on the bike on Friday back at West Ham. I was running on Saturday and Sunday and have done some much sharper work since then, and I feel fine. I could probably play now if I was asked."

Bellamy's progress will continue to be monitored over the next 48 hours but Wales are confident the 28-year-old, who has played only 20 minutes for West Ham since he scored twice against Slovakia last month during the 5-2 victory that rekindled hopes of finishing third in Group D, will collect his 48th cap in Nicosia. It was a scenario that Toshack clearly did not envisage when he previously declared: "There's a lot more at stake than there is against San Marino."