Curbs warning on Craig and Gabbs

Jan 30 2008 Western Mail

JOHN TOSHACK has been warned not to gamble with the fitness of Craig Bellamy and Danny Gabbidon.

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley (above) admits he is worried that the duo have been called up for Wales, even though neither has played this year.

Wales skipper Bellamy has been sidelined since the end of October with an abdominal injury, while Gabbidon has not appeared in a first-team shirt since early December due to a groin complaint.

Nevertheless, Toshack has drafted both into his squad for next Wednesday’s friendly against Norway.

But Curbishley has told Tosh to treat his players with kid gloves or risk putting them out for the rest of the season.

“It’s out of our hands,” said Curbishley. “If they get through to the weekend, then I’m sure they will be going off with Wales, but perhaps common sense will prevail, I don’t know.

“It may be the case that we can use it to get them a game, but I’ll be talking to the players first to see how they get on this week.

“Craig Bellamy has worked so hard to get back. We just need to make sure that when the players come back from injury we’ve got them back for good.

“John Toshack will know they both played in the reserves last week and they are on their way back.

“There will be some phone calls going to and fro this week.”

Bellamy is set to sit out tonight’s Premier League clash with former club Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Wales and West Ham team-mate James Collins is undergoing a scan to confirm the extent of the knee injury he suffered playing for the reserves last week.

The centre-half is expected to miss the rest of the season after damaging cruciate ligaments.