Wales have named Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale in their latest squad, but their Coach has confirmed that the player will not feature.
The 24-year-old has struggled for full fitness in the early weeks of his career in Spain for having missed pre-season as his summer transfer from Tottenham was negotiated.
The latest issue the player has picked up was a muscle contracture in his left thigh, which ruled him out of this midweek’s Champions League win over Copenhagen and looks set to see him sidelined for the weekend trip to Levante.
Whilst Carlo Ancelotti commented on how Bale will have the 15 days of the upcoming international break in which to rest and recover, Wales have today announced their intention to call up the winger.
However, it has come with the supposition from manager Chris Coleman that Bale will not play in either of the team’s closing World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Belgium.
“We have spoken to the doctor and we will be without him, but we said all along it is very tough for him to have had no pre-season and be thrown in at the deep end,” Coleman told reporters today.
It is expected that Bale will not join up with his international colleagues.
Wales squad to face Macedonia and Belgium: Myhill, Hennessey, Fon Williams, B Davies, Gabbidon, Gunter, Matthews, Ricketts, Taylor, A Williams, Allen, Collision, John, King, Ledley, Ramsey, Vaughan, Bale, Bellamy, Church, Robson-Kanu, Vokes
