Bellamy named Welsh Footballer of the Year

LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) Craig Bellamy of West Ham United has been named as Wales' Footballer of the Year, with Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale winning the Young Player of the Year award.

Bellamy, who took over as Wales skipper when Ryan Giggs retired from international football last season, was unable to attend the presentation dinner at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff as he is undergoing treatment for a hernia injury.

The 28-year-old will miss Wales' final two Euro 2008 qualifiers against Ireland on Saturday and Germany next week because of the injury.

Bale, 18, who moved from Southampton to Spurs for 10 million pounds (20.79 million dollars) in May, was also unable to collect his award because he is having treatment on a broken metatarsal.

Bellamy moved in the close season from Liverpool to West Ham where he has scored four goals in eight appearances.

REUTERS AB KN1740