BBC SPORT | WALES | Players honour Bellamy

Craig Bellamy has been named as the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year.

The Wales and Newcastle striker beat off competition from Bolton's Michael Ricketts and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.

Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy was voted the PFA's Player's Player of the Year, but Bellamy warned the prolific Dutchman to expect a challenge for next year's honour.

"I've just spoken to Ruud van Nistelrooy and I said to him my aim is to win the main award," he said.

"It's unbelievable to win the young player and when I look down the list of past winners it's amazing, but my aim is to get to the next level."

We have some good young players and will get better as a team

Bellamy on Newcastle

Bellamy, who has been sidelined with a knee injury for two months, has also set his sights on a place in next season's Champions League.

Newcastle are locked in a battle with Chelsea and Leeds for the final Champions League place and Bellamy believes qualification would be enough to keep the Tynesiders at the top level for the near future.

"Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are that little bit stronger and if we are going to get anywhere we need Champions League football next year because then we can build and build," he said.

Van Nistelrooy has scored 33 goals in all competitions

"We can sign new players and if we get into the Champions League I think we'll be there for a couple of years because we can sign players and get stronger.

"We have some good young players and will get better as a team."

Van Nistelrooy received the award from Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, the PFA's guest of honour, at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Sunday.

He came out ahead of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, David Beckham and Roy Keane after PFA members voted for their top player this season.

Henry came second while Arsenal team-mate Pires was third.


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