Gareth Bale of Wales during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Wales and Croatia at Cardiff City Stadium on October 13, 2019. /VCG Photo
Gareth Bale of Wales during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Wales and Croatia at Cardiff City Stadium on October 13, 2019. /VCG Photo
Whether Gareth Bale will play in the two Euro 2020 qualifiers left on the schedule for Wales against Azerbaijan and Hungary is yet to be confirmed. He's included in the players' list of the games, though.
Bale has suffered from calf injury since a 1-1 draw between Wales and Croatia on October 13.
The Welsh – surprise semi-finalists at Euro 2016 – are presently fourth in their group, six points adrift of table-topping Croatia and four shy of second-placed Hungary. Both Croatia and Hungary have just one game remaining.
Bale returned to light training with Real Madrid last week after a visit to London, sparking speculations about whether he's playing the qualifiers on November 16 and 19.
Ryan Giggs, who became Wales manager in January 2018 after Chris Coleman left to take over at Sunderland, said he hoped Bale would get some game time this weekend.
"That's the ideal situation, that he gets minutes before meeting with us," said the 45-year-old former Manchester United wing.
"They're huge games and we need to win them (to qualify), we know what we've got to do. We've played against both teams, we beat Azerbaijan and lost against Hungary."
Zinedine Zidane, head coach of Real Madrid where Bale serves, said he was unfazed by Wales calling up Gareth Bale, and that he didn't think the Real Madria forward was fit to play.
He also reiterated his desire for Bale to stay at Madrid for the whole season, describing suggestions he wants the 30-year-old to be sold in January as "nonsense."
Gareth Bale of Wales lies injured during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Wales and Croatia at Cardiff City Stadium on October 13, 2019. /VCG Photo
Gareth Bale of Wales lies injured during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Wales and Croatia at Cardiff City Stadium on October 13, 2019. /VCG Photo
Bale has not played any of Madrid's four matches since the injury and will be missing their game against Galatasaray in the Champions League today.
"The first one to suffer is the player, he wants to be involved and if he is not ready to play for Wales, he won't play," said Zidane in a press conference.
(With input from AFP)