Former Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd, speaking exclusively with 888sport, has revealed the relationship that he had with his Bluebirds idol Craig Bellamy, as well as explaining the relationship with former striker Michael Chopra.

Bothroyd signed for Cardiff in 2008 from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee of £350,000 and after struggling up front alongside Ross McCormack during his first few months at the club, he was paired with Michael Chopra during the latter's loan spell during 2008-2009 before partnering with him for 2009-2010 when Chopra joined the club on a permanent basis.

Striker Craig Bellamy came in for the 2010-2011 season, and he also partnered Bothroyd up front as the Bluebirds had some excellent options in the striker department.

On the relationships he had with the pair, Bothroyd said: "My favourite strike partner was Bellamy or Chopra.

"I had a really good rapport with Chops but when Bellamy came to Cardiff, he helped me develop and take my game to the next level, seeing how he prepared every day, how he trained and what he ate, what he did before and after training.

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"It made me want to do that and that's what helped me get into the national team.

"I looked up to him and he's the kind of guy who would talk to you a lot as well.

"The best forward I played with was Craig Bellamy, but me and Chops had a really good relationship on the pitch for Cardiff."

The striker's Cardiff form saw him picked for national side England in November 2010, and he made his only appearance for his country as a second-half substitute against France, becoming Cardiff's first England international in their history and the first England international to come from the Football League since David Nugent in 2007.

During his three-year spell as a Cardiff player before signing for QPR in 2011, the striker made 133 appearances and scored 45 goals in a Cardiff shirt.

Read the full 888sport interview with Bothroyd here.