Bellamy, 29, started his first competitive international for a year when he led out Wales against Liechtenstein in Saturday's 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory, missing a penalty in the process.

Many players of the West Ham United striker's age, who have endured the catalogue of injuries that the Cardiff-born star has been confronted with, would seriously consider quitting the international stage to prolong their club careers.

But Bellamy has made it very clear he has no intention of following that course.

some players

Bellamy said: "International football will give me up before I quit international football.

"But I am not going to retire from international football, I have missed too many games for Wales for me to want to pack it in.

"I understand why some players think differently, and I respect their decisions.

"But it would not be right for me to do the same. To stop playing for Wales, to stop coming home to Cardiff."