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Craig Bellamy hints at Wales retirement in the summer
Striker believes injuries are catching up with him but insists he will make a decision in the summer and is still available for selection by Wales boss Gary Speed
27 Mar 2011 11:03:00
By Chris Davie
Getty Images
Craig Bellamy has hinted he may retire from international football after conceding that his body is starting to deteriorate after a series of injuries.
The striker has targeted the summer as a time to make his decision but expresses his desire to continue playing for Wales.
“I'm 31 years of age now, I've had nine operations and most people are probably in better nick than me,” said Bellamy, according to The Daily Mail.
"The future isn't great for me and I don't like to look too far ahead.
“I will see how I am in the summer. I'd love to keep going as much as I can. I enjoy football and it's important to me.
“My body is a lot different to most people of my age because of the work I've had done. I take it season upon season because of the condition of my knee. It doesn't allow me to look much further than the next couple of months."
Bellamy maintains he is still available for selection following Wales’ 2-0 defeat by England on Saturday, and the on-loan Cardiff City striker insists Gary Speed can take a positive from the age of the squad, as well as the second-half display against Fabio Capello's side.
“This isn't my last game. There are two games in the summer but I will have to look at where I'm going,” said Bellamy.
“It's disappointing but we have to try to take the positives. We had a lot of young players who we have to be positive about.
“They are not just young, but really good young players with a big future. They will have learned from this game. The second-half performance was OK.”
The striker has targeted the summer as a time to make his decision but expresses his desire to continue playing for Wales.
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“I'm 31 years of age now, I've had nine operations and most people are probably in better nick than me,” said Bellamy, according to The Daily Mail.
"The future isn't great for me and I don't like to look too far ahead.
“I will see how I am in the summer. I'd love to keep going as much as I can. I enjoy football and it's important to me.
“My body is a lot different to most people of my age because of the work I've had done. I take it season upon season because of the condition of my knee. It doesn't allow me to look much further than the next couple of months."
Bellamy maintains he is still available for selection following Wales’ 2-0 defeat by England on Saturday, and the on-loan Cardiff City striker insists Gary Speed can take a positive from the age of the squad, as well as the second-half display against Fabio Capello's side.
“This isn't my last game. There are two games in the summer but I will have to look at where I'm going,” said Bellamy.
“It's disappointing but we have to try to take the positives. We had a lot of young players who we have to be positive about.
“They are not just young, but really good young players with a big future. They will have learned from this game. The second-half performance was OK.”
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21:50 BST -
And here are some quotes from today's goalscorer, Danny Welbeck: "It's still the same, me and Ashley [Young] playing together.
"We know each other's games and obviously we're training with each other day in and day out.
"So, it was really good to start up top with him."
"We know each other's games and obviously we're training with each other day in and day out.
"So, it was really good to start up top with him."
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