Bellamy excited by City debut

CRAIG BELLAMY will happily accept a job as Manchester City’s boot cleaner should Mark Hughes eventually decide his fellow Welshman is no longer needed in his Eastlands squad.

Bellamy (29) will make his City debut against Newcastle tonight following his £10million move from West Ham.

It is the start of a four–and–a–half year odyssey the striker expects will end with City having forced their way into England’s elite top four.

Bellamy is realistic enough to know that once the Blues reach those rarefied heights, his talents may not be enough to guarantee him a place. But he is so excited by the prospect of what lies ahead, he will do whatever Hughes wants.

“Realistically you cannot suddenly make the Champions League,” he said. “What we have to do is establish ourselves in the top six and then, with the financial backing we have here, City can have a right go at the top four.

“I don’t know where that will leave me but if those top new players need someone to clean their boots, I will be up for it.”

Bellamy will play alongside fellow new recruit Nigel de Jong tonight, with many City fans wondering if Magpies keeper Shay Given will be making the switch between the two clubs before the transfer window closes next Monday.

Micah Richards is expected to partner Nedum Onuoha in central defence as skipper Richard Dunne starts a four–match ban.