Alan Curbishley has welcomed the arrival of record signing Craig Bellamy, whose £7.5m switch from Liverpool was confirmed yesterday.
Curbishley, speaking via whufc.com this evening told how he was 'really pleased' to land a player whom he rather eloquently (and possibly tactfully) described as 'hungry and also a little bit angry'.27-year-old Bellamy's disciplinary problems have been well documented; his decision to use John Arne Risse's head as a replacement golf ball was a major factor in him leaving Liverpool (the club he supported as a youngster) this week.
However Curbishley - who is known for being something of a disciplinarian himself - clearly believes he can curb (no pun intended) the Welsh international's fiery temperament.
"I'm really pleased to have signed Craig," he said. "He is the right age with the right experience.
"People have raised eyebrows at the fact that he has played for a few clubs but, if you actually look at his record, it isn't anything out of the ordinary. At Newcastle he had a fantastic start under Bobby Robson, but didn't see eye-to-eye with Graeme Souness.
"He is keen to prove what he can do and he has an opportunity now to cement some roots and show everybody what a good player he is.
"I'm sure he will strike up a good rapport with the fans, because he tries his hardest in every match and desperately wants to win."
* The original 'Angry Ant' was Irish international David Connolly, who was thus described by Glenn Roeder in 2003 after the Irish striker threatened to quit the Hammers - just two weeks into his United career - after being replaced in the team by loan signing Neil Mellor.
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