Craig is happy to lend a helping hand

CRAIG Bellamy has Fulham in his sights after recovering from the groin injury which forced him to miss last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Wigan.

Bellamy, named City’s player of the month this week, has been in blistering form during the Blues’ excellent start to the Premier League season.

He has scored vital goals - including a double strike at Manchester United - but he insists he derives more pleasure from creating opportunities for his team-mates.

During the build-up to Sunday’s home Premier League match against Fulham, Bellamy said: "I much prefer to be setting up a goal for someone in a better position.

“I've never built my game around goals, it's about my performance and work ethic. I think fans appreciate me giving my all.

"I don't like to come off the pitch able to walk properly - I want to give everything I have, because I know that I'm a limited player.

“If I do that, it gives me the best chance to play well."

Bellamy is probably selling himself short with his “limited-player” description and he will need to produce his best this weekend should City’s star striker Emmanuel Adebayor fail to recover from the knee ligament strain he suffered at Wigan.

Kolo Toure (heel) is also a slight doubt, but City boss Mark Hughes will definitely without Pablo Zabaleta as the defender serves a one–match ban following his dismissal for two bookable offences last Sunday.

However, City’s strength in depth should enable them to overcome a Fulham outfit rocked by a late equaliser in last night’s 1-1 Europa League draw at home to Roma.

Under the astute management of Roy Hodgson, Fulham have progressed from relegation candidates two seasons ago to their current luxury of mid-table safety.

But they lack the fire power to trouble the Premier League’s elite clubs and, if City are to achieve their ambition of finishing in the top four, they must dispatch teams such as Fulham on their home turf.