Craig Bellamy denies rumours of retirement

Craig Bellamy has asked a Cardiff City director to release a statement on his behalf to deny he is about to retire.

"Craig spoke to me directly and asked me to put out the message that he is totally committed to the Bluebirds' cause," said director Steve Borley.

"He has a calf injury that is keeping him out at the moment but he will be back playing for Cardiff City as soon as he is fit."

Manager Malky Mackay had earlier stressed Bellamy was going nowhere.

The striker, 33, joined his home-town club in August from Liverpool on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal having previously played for Cardiff on loan.

Bellamy had also been linked with other clubs, including Queens Park Rangers.

He had been absent from Cardiff's training ground over the past few days, but Mackay stressed that was a result of injury rather than anything else.

"There are plenty of rumours flying about and names are thrown at me every day because people decided to start things on the internet," Mackay said.

"It means nothing to me. We can talk about proper journalism and proper sport, not internet trolling."

Mackay also confirmed that Bellamy has missed recent matches because of a torn calf muscle, an injury that is also likely to rule him out of Wales' 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and Serbia in September.

And according to Borley, Bellamy believes he will be fit for selection for Cardiff's first game after the international break against Leeds United on 15 September.