Bellamy: Had knee op (AlexLivesey/Allsport)

The PFA's Young Player of the Year, who is recovering from a knee injury, participated for 27 minutes in Newcastle's 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Monday night and managed an hour's run-out for the reserves against Blackburn at Morecambe last night.

The Welsh FA had sent a car to Anfield to collect Bellamy and Newcastle team-mate Gary Speed and take them to Cardiff before the squad fly out to Helsinki, but Robson would not let Bellamy go.

Instead, he gave him his first reserve outing since injury alongside French winger Laurent Robert, who also came on as a second-half substitute at Liverpool.

Last night Robson tried to defuse another club versus country row, but is insisting that Wales manager Mark Hughes should not play Bellamy against Finland if Wales demand that the striker joins up with the squad.

Robson said: 'The Welsh FA want him to go, but he hasn't got any first or reserve-team football behind him and we think it's a game too early.

'If necessary, we can provide medical documentation to them in evidence and we're still under guidance from his doctor. We know he might have to go, but he hasn't played for the last seven months.

'If he was to come back injured, I'd go ballistic, the chairman would go ballistic and so would our medical staff. We've spent thousands of pounds in medical bills and first-class tickets to America, trying to get him right.'

Robson also spoke about the latest injury problems of Kieron Dyer, following the decision to withdraw from the England squad for Saturday's friendly against Portugal at Villa Park.

While the 23-year-old's speed and stamina have already established him as a potent attacking force from midfield, Robson fears the physical demands of driving his side on relentlessly may be proving too much for his troublesome shins.

Robson said: 'It is a worry because this is the very condition that caused him so many problems last season. You would not think there was anything wrong from the way he plays. Anyone who saw his performance against Liverpool would tell you that.

'He was running at full pelt and he was all right. It is afterwards when the problem sets in. He gets back to the dressing room and is in a great deal of pain. He needs a break between matches as much as possible, particularly at this time of year, when the pitches are hard.

'More than that, he has to be a bit selective about what he does out on the pitch. At Anfield it was typical of him to always be the guy who was furthest upfield whenever we launched a break. Even when we went on the counter four minutes from time, he was ahead of everyone.

'I asked him afterwards, "Where do you get your energy from?" It is quite marvellous how he keeps going, but I also said to him, "Listen, son, be a bit more careful, and choose your runs".

'I am convinced he will be all right and it will certainly help when the pitches are softer. But we have to be sensible with him. We have to protect him for his own sake and I am sure people who matter in the game will realise that.'