Craig Bellamy arrived in Cardiff from Manchester City in August

Wales captain Craig Bellamy insists he is close to full fitness after arriving at Cardiff City from Manchester City "a wreck".

Bellamy came to the Cardiff City Stadium on a season's loan in August nursing a knee problem.

But having been restricted to nine league starts so far Bellamy says he is nearly 100% fit.

"I came a wreck if I was being honest. I was very close to surgery," revealed Bellamy.

"The physios at Cardiff have done very well. I've brought in my own people as well."

Speaking at the launch of Cardiff City's new House of Sport coaching academy on Tuesday, Bellamy added: "I'm getting there now. Last week was the first week I have trained for a whole week.

"Because of the swelling I've had after every game I've basically been training one day a week.

"It isn't ideal because my speed and endurance is a vital part of my game. When I'm not training it's very difficult for me to turn round on Saturday.

"So this week I'm getting less reaction which allows me to train and I'm hoping over the next couple of weeks I can get back to the level I'm looking for.

"The best thing about this league is there is so many games. If I can turn it on from December onwards I can end up doing real damage in this league."

And Bellamy believes that though Cardiff City have hit some patchy form, having lost their last two home games to Swansea City (1-0) and Nottingham Forest (2-0), there is a long way to go this season.

Victory at Championship leaders QPR on Saturday would see second-placed Cardiff take over at the top.

"People turn up and expect us to win our home games. We haven't done that the last two games. We are looking for promotion. We have had a couple of setbacks but hopefully there will be a lot more good times.

A lot of people were questioning where this club was going to go from now on and in the space of a couple of months we have a chance of going to the top of the league on Saturday Craig Bellamy

"I'm sure that's the aim for every championship side is to get to the Premiership because it is the biggest league in the world. It is everything.

"We are trying to make strides. We are trying to get there. There's going to be a few rough times ahead this season, but the whole aim is at the end of the season we do try to get to the Premier League, so hopefully we do come close.

"Because how much it means to everyone down here. A defeat can set you back.

"But if we look back in reality we are in the right way. You look even in the summer there was [a transfer] embargo on the club. The defeat against Blackpool really [let] a lot of people down.

"A lot of people were questioning where this club was going to go from now on and in the space of a couple of months we have a chance of going to the top of the league on Saturday.

"We are moving forward. We are moving the right way. We have done it on a great budget. We don't have a budget."

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