HOLIDAYING Wales boss Mark Hughes received a huge blow to his Euro 2004 hopes today.

Newcastle United striker Craig Bellamy (pictured) is out of today's Premiership clash with Charlton after suffering a recurrence of his knee injury.

And Hughes will now face an anxious wait to see if his Welsh dynamo will be fit to face Azerbaijan on November 20 in a crucial European qualifier.

Newcastle have already contacted top American surgeon Richard Steadman - who operated on Bellamy at the end of the last campaign - after the Cardiff-born striker complained of discomfort in his knee earlier this week.

"He's got a reaction to his tendinitis again," admitted Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson last night.

"We're just going to let it settle for a couple of days and then see what it's like."

Bellamy sunk Italy with a stunning winner at the Millennium Stadium last Wednesday and his potential absence next month would be a great loss to Wales as they aim to qualify for their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.

l Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor has promised that Wales defender Mark Delaney is part of his plans.

"I've seen certain things that Mark has apparently said and I can only say again that people should recognise the fact that he lost his place for three weeks through injury only," said Taylor.

l Wales midfielder Carl Robinson was given a three-year contract at Nationwide First Division leaders Portsmouth yesterday.