Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has expressed his belief that Craig Bellamy will not rush into any decision regarding his retirement from football.
Earlier this week Bellamy hinted that he could call time on his 17-year career at the end of the current season, having played for 10 different clubs and made 76 appearances for Wales.
Mackay pointed to the examples set by the likes of Kevin Phillips and Ryan Giggs, who have both played into their 40s, but admitted that it would not come as a surprise if the 34-year-old was to hang up his boots next summer due to his well-documented knee problems.
"Craig is quite open in talking about [retirement] so it's not a shock to anyone if it happens at the end of the season. He's someone at ease with seeing how the season goes and making that decision in the summer," Mackay told PA.
"I talk to him about Kevin Phillips and Ryan Giggs, who take it a season at a time, but there will be a point where, because of his knees, Craig wants a life with his family where he can walk about and not have arthritis in his knees for the rest of his life.
"And there'll be a point where he says 'that's not quite yet, I'm going to have another season'."
Bellamy was not part of the Cardiff squad for yesterday's 1-1 draw with Hull having played the full 90 minutes in both of Wales's recent World Cup qualifying matches.
Barney Corkhill
