Hughes: Bellamy going nowhere

Mark Hughes is confident that Craig Bellamy will stay at Blackburn.

The Welsh striker has been hugely impressive in Rovers' successful season, scoring 13 goals in The Premiership despite missing several games through injury.

His dynamism has also spurred Blackburn on to a top-six finish and Uefa Cup qualification, but he has been linked with a move away.

However, Hughes believes that Bellamy is revelling in life at Ewood Park, and sees no reason why he would possibly want to leave.

"We control the situation in so far as we give him what he needs," Hughes explained.

"He gets the right quality of work to enable him to become a better footballer and that is very important to him.

"I know he is happy here and that he enjoys what is happening here.

"With European football here as well next season, the package we have at the moment is very attractive to Craig."

Hughes has insisted that he is looking to strengthen, not weaken his squad, and revealed that he was searching for an additional striker.

"We are a top-six side and they don't sell their best players. It is important that we keep building," he stressed.

"If we can get somebody to play alongside Craig that will enable us to score more goals.

"We have got to keep that cutting edge up front and we are hoping we will be able to improve in that aspect."

Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen is reportedly one of the targets Hughes is casting his eye over.

Meanwhile, Hughes has paid tribute to defender Ryan Nelsen's attitude.

The New Zealander injured his leg in the first half of Blackburn's victory over Charlton last weekend but battled on into the second half hoping to shake off the knock. It later emerged that he had suffered a hairline fracture.

"Ryan suffered the injury in the first half but he kept insisting he was okay and would run it off," Hughes reflected.

"He was convinced that he'd trapped a nerve or something and he played on into the second half.

"You don't want players carrying on when their injured but I think his example sums up the spirit and determination in the squad."