Bellamy may miss rest of season

Bellamy may have to be a spectator at Eastlands for the next few weeks

Striker Craig Bellamy is unlikely to play for Manchester City for the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

Bellamy has missed the last three games after the problem recurred in the 3-1 Uefa first-leg defeat at Hamburg.

He was also hindered by it on Welsh duty as captain in March and may be a doubt for the crucial World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan on 6 June.

City boss Mark Hughes said: "Craig might get the last couple of games but the probability is that he won't."

It is a blow for the club as they push for seventh spot in the Premier League - they are currently 10th - and a place in the Europa League, with five games remaining.

Hughes added that Bellamy would have to completely rest for two weeks before returning for strength work.

Since moving from West Ham in the January transfer window Bellamy has scored five goals in 10 starts before tearing a patella tendon in his knee in the league game with the Hammers in March.

The improved fitness of Bulgarian Valeri Bojinov was some welcome news for City.

The forward is set to play for the reserves at Middlesbrough on Tuesday after snapping his Achilles tendon last August.

Winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is still struggling with ankle damage that has resulted in him missing the last three games, while Hughes confirmed that a hamstring injury could rule Pablo Zabaleta out for a "number of games".