CRAIG Bellamy has insisted that there is "no problem" in him playing for Wales on Thursday, despite Newcastle United failing to give their blessing for his return to the international fold.

The injury-prone striker was left out of Mark Hughes' original squad for this week's match in Norway, and Sunday's home game with Canada, because the Wales boss felt he was unlikely to be fit following a hamstring problem.

Bellamy made just 24 appearances for the Magpies last season, with his latest injury keeping him sidelined for a month before a 50-minute run-out at Anfield on the final day.

Newcastle officials had hoped the 24-year-old would be able to enjoy an activity-free summer in order to regain full fitness ahead of the new campaign.

But, instead, the £8m-rated frontman has opted to throw himself back into the international fray in order to protect his place in the Welsh side.

Cardiff striker Robert Earnshaw has been in prolific form in Bellamy's absence, scoring a hat-trick in February's 4-0 win over Scotland.

And, with crucial World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and England coming up later this year, Bellamy is desperate to remind Hughes what he can do at the end of a season spent largely on the sidelines.

'I did not expect to be in the original squad," admitted Bellamy, who will partner Earnshaw on Thursday in the absence of the injured Ryan Giggs and Eifion Williams and the play-off bound Christian Roberts.

"But I have recovered quickly and there is no problem with me being here.

''I told Mark that if I made the Liverpool game on the last day of the season I had a chance of making the internationals. For my own fitness this will be ideal.

"I can handle two games in four days. When I came back I had Arsenal and then PSV in succession and I was able to handle that."

This is not the first time that Newcastle and the Welsh FA have had disagreements over Cardiff-born Bellamy.

The two camps were at loggerheads in 2002 when Bellamy was flown to Helsinki at the last minute ahead of Wales' opening Euro 2004 qualifier against Finland.

And relationships became even more strained when the striker played in Italy last year, despite Newcastle insisting he was nursing a knee problem.

Further tests on Tyneside revealed significant damage and Bellamy was forced to undergo another career-saving operation on his troublesome knee.

The former Coventry striker admits he was far from fully fit when Newcastle booked their UEFA Cup spot at Liverpool earlier this month, but he insists he will benefit from two intensive run-outs in the space of four days.

"I had a four to six week injury, and I have got back quicker than expected," said Bellamy. "I could have written my season off, but I had missed so much of the season I just wanted to have a target, something to work towards.

"And that was the Liverpool game. I made it but I was on way too early.

"I should have had the last 20 minutes but because of Shola Ameobi's injury early on I was out there for about an hour and I was nowhere near ready for that length of time.

"I didn't go on any sprints, I was only just fit and it was a risk.

"But I am okay now, I am fit and have been training with the academy kids for the last couple of weeks when everyone else has gone off on their holidays."

Bellamy will not be joined by United teammate Gary Speed after he was forced to pull out of the Wales squad because of a hamstring problem.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have confirmed that they will be repeating last year's controversial tour of the Far East this summer.

Sir Bobby Robson's side lost to Chelsea in the final of the inaugural Asia Cup last July but, while the club's tour of Malaysia had considerable financial benefits, concerns were expressed at the toll taken on the players by the intense heat and humidity.

It had been expected that United would stay somewhat closer to home this summer but, instead, they will play two games in Thailand and Hong Kong.

Newcastle will face a Thailand XI in Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium on Wednesday, July 14, before taking on club side Kitchee in Hong Kong's National Stadium on Sunday, July 18.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.