Hammers star to train with FA Cup finalists

2:19pm Friday 9th May 2008

WEST Ham striker Craig Bellamy will step up his bid for full fitness by training with FA Cup finalists Cardiff next week.

The Wales captain (pictured) has missed a large part of the season because of an ongoing abdominal problem.

He has made just eight appearances for the Irons following his £7.5 million move from Liverpool last summer.

However, the 28-year-old is back in full training again.

And Irons boss Alan Curbishley has revealed that Bellamy would now be spending time with Cardiff - who face Portsmouth in the cup final - to get in some fitness work ahead of pre-season.

Curbishley said: "Craig Bellamy is in full training and has been doing everything. We're going to hopefully continue that.

"Obviously we finish at the weekend but kindly (Cardiff manager) Dave Jones has allowed Craig to train with them for a week as they prepare for the cup game.

"So, he can get another week's football in and we can see where we are after that."

However, Curbishley added that he is unclear about when a number of his other injured stars will return.

And that, he admits, is somewhat hampering his preparations for next season.

"It's a bit difficult because the return dates on some of them because the return dates on some of them are not set," he added.

"Julien Faubert could probably, at a push, be fit for Sunday (against Aston Villa) but it's the last game and I'd prefer to have a clean bill of health with him.

"Kieron Dyer was running fully and doing really well and he had a little irritation, but he's had that sorted out and we're very confident he'll be okay.

"Anton Ferdinand's back in training, Matty Upson isn't far away and nor is Jon Spector.

"So I know a lot of that squad will be available in the summer and I'm waiting for that to happen before I decide where we need to go."