Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy has doubts over whether he can drag out his injury-blighted career for as little as two more seasons, as his knee problems conspire to take their toll.

The 30-year-old forward has been constantly plagued with injuries throughout his 13-year professional career, and was most recently forced to sit out Wales 3-0 win over Scotland having been struggling with a groin problem.

However, it is his persistent knee injuries which have frustrated the Wales captain most of all, and he has even been to see renowned US specialist Dr Richard Steadman in a bid to fix the affliction irrevocably.

But Bellamy knows that it is only a matter of time before retirement is forced upon him, having recently acknowledged that he will have to end his international career should City qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.

"I know there aren't four or five years ahead of me with the injuries that I've had," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"Maybe I've got one or two years at the most and it'll be all over before I know it, so I'm just enjoying it.

"The last few months have given me a huge sense of pride. I think people have seen what I am as a player now.

"I have always got goals in my career, but am I a one-goal-in- two-games player? No, I'm not, but my career has been one-in-three, which is not too bad."

Something of a journeyman throughout his relatively short career, Bellamy finally seems settled at Eastlands, where he has been reunited with his former Wales and Blackburn Rovers manger Mark Hughes.

With five goals this season, he is keeping pace with big-money signings Carlos Tevez and Emmanual Adebayor, but is facing a race against time to be fit ahead of a tricky trip to old club Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime.