Brendan Rodgers has spoken in glowing terms about Cardiff City striker Craig Bellamy and admits not getting the chance to work with the striker is one of the few disappointments of his Liverpool tenure so far.

The Wales striker left the Reds to join the Welsh side in August 2012 as Rodgers' maiden term at the Anfield helm was just getting underway.

Rodgers concedes he was saddened to lose the services of Bellamy, but had full respect for his desire to join Cardiff.

The boss told Liverpoolfc.com in an exclusive interview at Melwood: "It's one of my only regrets, really, that I never got the chance to work with Craig.

"I've followed him in his career right the way through; an outstanding player, very honest, speaks his mind, but is an ultimate professional.

"He always prepares himself well. He's given his life to being a footballer. He's a big Liverpool supporter and did very, very well here.

"When I came in, he had a year left on his contract but for other reasons he needed to move back home - and that was a regret because I've always seen him from the outside as someone who was very passionate about football, but who had great qualities.

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"Technically he's very good, tactically you could see he worked on his game and understood the game with more experience, physically he was super fast, strong and looked after his body, and obviously to be the big player he's been for the big clubs he's played for you have to be mentally very strong.

"So for me to lose a player of that quality when I did was obviously very disappointing, but I respected his opinion at the time. He went back to his home in Cardiff and has been a real iconic figure for Cardiff.

"It'll be good to see him down there. He's a good guy.

"Hopefully he plays and has a game...a good game, but not too good of a game!"