Angry ‘fat belly’ Campbell lays into Newcastle fans

Sol Campbell has only been at Newcastle for six days yet he has already indulged in a bit of verbal fisticuffs with Magpies fans who dubbed him "fat belly" after seeing some unflattering photos of the defender in training.

The centreback arrived at st James' Park on July 28 after enjoying an extended honeymoon, and the photos from training suggested he hadn't held back on room service while away with his new bride. Upon seeing the pictures, Newcastle fans forums were abuzz with jibes about the former England defender's weight. As well as "fat belly", one fan suggested that they would have to "widen the tunnel" at St James' Park, while another said that he had an "arse like a rhino".

It is a situation about which Campbell is not best pleased, and he has risked his relationship with his new supporters before he has even made his debut by laying into his critics - and taking what could be described as a somewhat condescending tone.

"It's pathetic," he told Soccernet. "I had been training for three days – just three days. I am three weeks behind everyone else in pre-season. Don't they know I have just got married and been on honeymoon?

"I accept that the picture wasn't flattering, and I do need to catch up on my level of fitness, but the training kit was not very flattering and showed up all sorts of things. The truth is that I am now in better shape than when I started off back at Arsenal after a long lay-off. I got myself back into shape at Arsenal, and I think I had a reasonably good end half of the season."

Campbell was a revelation for the Gunners after rejoining them in January last season. His signing was originally intended only to be a temporary measure, but the steel and strength he added to the Arsenal back line meant that Arsene Wenger offered him a one year extention to his contract – which Campbell rejected in favour of a move North-East.

"I am a naturally big guy, but I cannot rush my conditioning, otherwise trying too much too quickly could result in injuries," added the former Tottenham and Portsmouth defender. "Of course I can understand the manager wants me to be in the side, but the season starts in just two weeks and I really need three to four weeks to get back to peak fitness.

"I've seen it all before, done it all before, heard it all before, but that means I also know exactly what to do. It's a long season and I cannot listen to idiots. I know these things cannot be rushed. What I do know is that I will achieve peak fitness given the time I need to do it. It might be that I will need to play and then put in extra training in between games.

"My message is simple to all the knockers: I am knuckling down and want to play my football with a great club and a great manager. Then you can judge me."

Luckily for Campbell, wearing vertical stripes like those found on Newcastle's home kit, is a tried and tested method for hiding unwanted curves. ·