One to Watch – Craig Bellamy

Vital QPR has identified Cardiff striker Craig Bellamy as the One to Watch as the Rs travel to Wales for a top of the table clash with both teams fighting for promotion.

Name: Craig Bellamy

Date of Birth: 13/7/79

Former Clubs: Norwich City, Coventry City, Newcastle United, Celtic, Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City

Appearances (Goals): 365 (122)

After a slow start adapting to life in the Championship Craig Bellamy is finally finding his feet in the English second tier and has been instrumental in Cardiff`s recent onslaught towards automatic promotion. A fiery character, with an abundance of experience and talent, Bellamy will be determined to help his hometown club overcome the league leaders and help Cardiff finally reach the Premier League.

Bellamy started his career off at Norwich City making his debut at the age of just 17. He soon became a first team regular, despite missing large chunks of his four years at Carrow Road due to injury, where he scored 32 goals in 84 league appearances. Much speculation surrounded the talented Bellamy and he eventually completed a £6.5 million move to Coventry in 2000.

The Welshman didn`t have the best of times at Coventry as he failed to make a large impact on a side that was relegated from the Premier League, which sparked a transfer to Newcastle United.

Then manager Sir Bobby Robson described Bellamy as a ‘great player wrapped round an unusual and volatile character`. Bellamy spent a successful four years at the club on the pitch, despite getting caught up in many controversies off the pitch. This eventually led him being loaned out to Celtic before moving on to Blackburn Rovers.

Injuries again hampered Bellamy`s progress as a Blackburn player despite proving to be a consistent goalscorer. An impressive run of form saw him soon snapped up by Liverpool for £6.5 million, a club offering Champions League football. His stint on Merseyside was short-lived as he was again caught up in a variety of controversies with players and managers. Bellamy`s seventh club was that of West Ham who signed him for £7.5 million. He spent two years at Upton Park stringing together a run of impressive performances which led to interest from Spurs and Man City.

He eventually signed for Man City in 2009 and soon became a fans favourite. Believed to be their best player in the 2009/2010 season by the fans he scored 13 times in 40 league appearances for the Manchester club. Fears he would be left out of the 25 man squad for the 2010/2011 season led him to talk of retirement, but he was delighted to join his hometown club Cardiff on a season long loan. A player never one to shy away from controversy, the Rs players will have to keep Bellamy quiet if they want to secure promotion sooner rather than later.