SIR Bobby Robson has given Mark Hughes some light relief on Wales hero Craig Bellamy's return to fitness.

Newcastle United manager Robson has told the Welsh boss that Bellamy, who scored the winner in the Wales' memorable 2-1 win over Italy last month, could be available for the Euro 2004 Group Nine qualifier in Azerbaijan in two weeks time.

"Craig is making good progress," said Robson. "We have not ruled him out of our Champions League game against Feyenoord next Tuesday but, in all honesty, I think that's a bit soon.

"He could feature in our Premiership clash at home with Southampton on Saturday week but still he should only play once a week."

The 23-year-old Cardiff-born striker has been sidelined for two weeks with a reoccurrence of a knee injury - but he has been included in Hughes' 25-man squad to face Azerbaijan in Baku on November 20.

Bellamy, who underwent a knee operation in March after suffering from tendonitis, has just returned from the United States where top surgeon Richard Steadman, who operated on Bellamy, laid further operation fears to rest.

Steadman insists Bellamy, who has scored five goals in 18 appearances for Wales, just needs to relax and Robson and Hughes both vow they'll give him all the time he needs.

Wales boss Hughes said: "He's proved a quick healer in the past and hopefully he'll recover in time for the game. I'll give him give him as long as he needs to prove his fitness so that he can play some part in the game."

But Hughes added: "If he doesn't play for Newcastle soon then it will make my job to convince Sir Bobby Robson to release him that much harder."

Hughes, who has been dogged by a bitter club v country ruling for the past 11 days, has proved his negotiating techniques with Robson in the past as he convinced the St James' Park chief to allow Bellamy play a cameo role in Wales' opening Group Nine win in Finland despite only playing a handful of games for the Magpies.