Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay believes that Craig Bellamy will be able to prolong his playing career by quitting the Wales national team.

The 34-year-old is expected to hang up his international boots at the end of the World Cup qualifiers in October.

"The time's come for him to bow out as he said he's going to do that and a new breed and a new generation [can] come through," BBC Sport quotes Mackay as saying. "The lack of international travelling is going to help his body."

Bellamy, who has netted 19 goals in 74 games for Wales, will line up with his teammates in the Premier League for the upcoming season following Cardiff's Championship title win.