Hughes urges Bellamy to stay with Man City

Mark Hughes has made contact with Craig Bellamy, urging him to stay with Manchester City and play for Roberto Mancini.

The Daily Mail says Bellamy has been among the most upset players in the wake of Hughes's sacking last weekend and told City chief executive Garry Cook last Saturday that he was considering his future at Eastlands.

The Wales international has subsequently calmed down and was helped by a phone conversation with Hughes at the start of the week in which his former Wales, Blackburn Rovers and City manager told him not to do anything rash.

It is understood that Hughes told Bellamy to get his head down and work for new manager Roberto Mancini and try and win a league title next season that would go a long way to justify Hughes's faith in buying him from West Ham last January.