Bellamy speaks on injury career threat

"There was pressure on me to come back but I had to put the reins on myself. It was a crucial stage of the season and people felt I was needed but only I knew how I was feeling and the pain I was in," he revealed today.

"I'd already had four operations on my knee during my career and I knew the pain I was in was serious and I would have been putting my career at risk by playing."

The extra rest has apparently worked wonders, and the Welsh international is raring to go again.

"Dr Steadman realised the extent of the problem right away. He did wonders for Alan Shearer and he's done wonders for me. I knew within 20 minutes of the operation that the knee was better."