The Manchester City striker was embroiled in an embarrassing fiasco over his non-appearance for Wales' trip to play Montenegro this week.

His club admit they forgot to tell the Football Association of Wales that he was injured and would not be travelling.

Wales boss John Toshack was privately seething, and has refused to be drawn on whether Bellamy should have himself rung to say he was unfit.

Bellamy has started only five of Wales' last 18 matches because of his injury problems.

Now his former Wales team-mate Iwan Roberts believes the 30-year-old should think about handing the Wales captaincy over to someone who plays regularly.

Roberts said it would be a "good shout" for Bellamy to step down as captain.

Roberts was also an experienced colleague of Bellamy's when the Cardiff-born striker started his career at Norwich.

But Bellamy has been plagued by knee injuries and his current problem, and subsequent withdrawal from Wednesday's friendly, caused confusion because of a communication mix-up.

The forward aggravated his knee problem during a goal scoring display for Manchester City in their friendly win over Celtic at the weekend.

City eventually told Toshack while he was already in Montenegro and the late notification meant Toshack did not have enough time to call up a replacement.

Bellamy was left "far from impressed" by Manchester City's blunder, and rung the team hotel in Podgorica to explain the situation.

Robert, who now works as a pundit for BBC Wales, said: "When asked about Craig's Wales future, John Toshack could have said 'he's still got a big future for Wales' but he didn't say it. I don't think we've heard the last of this."

Since Bellamy's appointment as captain he has played only 10 times in 23 internationals.

Simon Davies, Danny Gabbidon, Carl Fletcher and now Joe Ledley have stood in for Bellamy.

Roberts believes now could be time for Bellamy to concentrate on himself and getting fit.

He said: "Him stepping down as captain and playing in the big qualifiers is a good shout.

"I don't think Craig likes doing press conferences, that is not his cup of tea at all. So not being captain may be a relief for him. It is a decision John Toshack has got to make and make quickly."

Roberts added: "When Craig is fit, he is the first name down on the team-sheet.

"The problem is he has turned out for Wales in the past 12 to 18 months when he hasn't been 100 per cent fit and then gone back to his club and spent three or four months out injured.

"This time he has put himself in front of the Welsh team for the first time in his career. And, let's be honest, the Montenegro game was only a friendly.

"I know players can't pick and choose their games, but Ryan Giggs missed friendlies for Wales when he was having problems with his back and hamstrings.

"Giggs was allowed to do it so it was fair that Craig is allowed to do it this time."