Bellamy battles through troubles

Craig Bellamy has now scored four goals for Wales

Wales hero Craig Bellamy claims he suffered the "worst few days of his life" as he waited to discover his disciplinary fate at Newcastle following his nightclub fracas and police caution last week.

But the Cardiff-born striker, who scored Wales' goal in their 1-1 draw with Argentina on Wednesday night, is determined to put the off-field problems behind him.

Bellamy will go from Wales hero to Newcastle villain in just a few hours as he returns from his homeland to the north east - but he insists that his football will help him survive the problems.

Around this time last year I was at Coventry facing relegation

Craig Bellamy

"It has been a terrible week for me," Bellamy said. "A lot of people have tried to stick the boot in and have a go over the last few days.

"But the only way to answer them is to play football and do well, and that's exactly what I did against Argentina.

"One moment your life is turned upside down and the next it's back up there. I have set myself certain challenges in my football career, and it's up to me to back them up."

Reflecting on his 16th international performance, Bellamy added: "I can play a lot better.

"Like Ryan Giggs, I'm playing in a different position to what I'm used to at club level. But it's to the benefit of the team - and it's not a problem."

Bellamy has hit 18 goals this season and is in the best form of his life, with the Welsh public seeing the proof at the Millennium Stadium.

"People say that when you're on a run of good games or scoring regularly it just keeps going, and that's what is happening to me at the moment," he added.

Bellamy is a great admirer of Ryan Giggs

"Around this time last year I was at Coventry facing relegation. One year on we are scoring and drawing against one of the best teams in world football.

"It was great to get that goal. I just managed to get the right side of the defender and I just knew I had to get a decent touch on it."

Bellamy shone as the new young star and almost won the game with a blistering shot into the side-netting in the final minutes.

"Ryan and me add pace to the team, but we also work hard to track back and we are becoming hard to beat as a team."

After holding Argentina, Wales have now lost only two of their last 10 matches.