Wales striker Craig Bellamy has confirmed that he will retire from international duty.

The former Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester City man has scored 19 goals in 76 caps for his country and is the fifth highest goalscorer in Wales history.

Bellamy, who is currently at hometown Cardiff City, will play in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Belgium before ending a 15-year international career.

He won his first Wales cap in a friendly against Jamaica in 1998.

"I have to do what's best for the national team and this group of players are the future. The next qualifiers, two-odd years, I'm not going to see it," said Bellamy.

Like Ian Rush and Ryan Giggs, he did not have the opportunity to appear at a major tournament.

Meanwhile, the Welsh are going through an injury crisis ahead of the last set of qualifiers.

Captain Ashley Williams is the latest player to be ruled out after suffering an ankle ligament injury.

The Swansea defender is the tenth player to pull out of Chris Coleman's squad.

Adam Matthews, Ben Davies, Gareth Bale, Danny Gabbidon, Sam Ricketts, Jack Collison, Joe Allen, Jonathan Williams and Joe Ledley are already ruled out, while Premier League Player of the Month Aaron Ramsey missed training today.