Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said that Craig Bellamy is a part of his plans at Anfield.

The 32-year-old returned to the club last season and was one of the Reds' better performers, but used sparingly from the bench due to problems with his knees.

Rodgers, who took over the Merseyside outfit earlier this summer, said that he has talked with Bellamy and was impressed by his attitude.

"I had a really positive chat with Craig on Monday," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. "It was good to meet him and get his side of the Liverpool story. He's a big supporter of this club – he loves the club.

"He's a good guy. He has a real passion for Liverpool Football Club and that's the type of people I want here. I like his intensity, his work-rate and his passion so I would love him to be here.

"He's a player. It would take a really special and unique opportunity for Craig to walk out of Liverpool and for us to go our separate ways. If anything changes on that from a personal perspective then him and I will talk about that."

Bellamy is in his second spell at Anfield, having been sold to West Ham United in 2007.