Bell sounds on Leicester return.

Byline: By Miles Starforth

Craig Bellamy is in the frame to start against Leicester City on Saturday, having played his third game in a week.

The striker, named in the Wales squad for this month's friendly against Scotland, played the full 90 minutes for Newcastle United's reserves in their 1-1 draw at Liverpool last night.

Second-string coach Tommy Craig believes fit-again Bellamy is ready for the first team, having followed up his comeback game for the reserves last week with a fleeting substitute's appearance against Birmingham City on Saturday.

He said: "Craig was very busy again and got a good 90 minutes under his belt.

"He was very pacy and enthusiastic and he looks just about right for whenever the gaffer wants to use him."

There is not another Premiership Reserve League fixture for two weeks and last night's game will almost certainly be Bellamy's last for the reserves.

Meanwhile, Bellamy was a surprise name in Mark Hughes' squad, having apparently ruled himself out of international action until the World Cup qualifiers later in the year.

He said last month: "I owe Newcastle everything and my main priority has to be them.

"I have a major commitment to the club. I have to rule myself out of any international selection, until at least the summer."

But international boss Mark Hughes insisted the decision was taken following talks with Sir Bobby Robson and Bellamy, who had injured his knee with Wales in October.

Hughes said: "I spoke to Craig on Sunday and Bobby Robson yesterday. I said we don't want him to come back for us too early.

"If he decides he does not want to play for us until September because he feels he would rather wait that is no problem."

Bellamy's United and Wales teammate Gary Speed, meanwhile, sought assurances Hughes would stay as manager following their Euro 2004 play-off defeat before confirming he wanted to continue to be considered for the squad.

Hughes has announced a 26-man squad for the February 18 friendly in Cardiff, which included Speed.

Hughes said: "Gary wanted reassurances about my future and the staff's future.

"I have given him those assurances and he is going to carry on. That may have been the thoughts of other players but nobody has made it known to me they want to stop."