Manchester City boss Mark Hughes believes Craig Bellamy is playing the best football of his career.

The Welsh firebrand returns to boyhood idols Liverpool on Saturday eager to show Rafael Benitez what he missed out on.

Bellamy thought he was in dreamland when Benitez lured him to Merseyside from Blackburn. In the end, an ill-fated 12 month stint just became mired in controversy after an infamous clash with John Arne-Riise that earned Bellamy the nickname 'Nutter with the Putter' and accusations that his relationship with Benitez was non-existent.

Certainly, while his nine goals in 41 appearances earned him a semblance of respect from the Kop, he has done much better at City, where he took his tally to 10 in 23 matches in the recent draw with Burnley.

Having worked with Bellamy at Blackburn and City, as well as at international level with Wales, Hughes knows better than most what makes the 30-year-old tick.

And the Blues chief is adamant Bellamy has never been in better form.

"Every time I have been involved with Craig, he has produced," said Hughes.

"From our point of view, that is fantastic because, arguably, he is playing some of the best football he has ever produced.

"He knows he has a platform and the players around him that would allow him to be as successful as he knows he can be.

"Craig left Blackburn because he wanted to be successful and win trophies. When he left Liverpool maybe he hadn't quite fulfilled the ambition that he had.

"This is another opportunity and you sense it is one he does not want to let pass him by."

Reducing his commitments with Wales seem to be one of the ways Bellamy has found to prolong his career, which he admits may not last beyond a couple of seasons given the chronic state of his knees.

And Hughes has also ensured help is on hand to quell potential flashpoints, which used to occur so regularly when Bellamy was around.

"Craig is a big influence in the dressing room," he reflected.

"But he also has a very demanding personality and, more often than not, he will say things that are incorrect.

"What you have to remember is that he doesn't bear grudges.

"When people react to what he says too quickly, it can escalate. But he has people around him now that understand him.

"When he reacts in an adverse way it is nipped in the bud very quickly. I think he is grateful for that."