Wednesday 16 September 2015

Bale Injury Worries Wales


Gareth Bale limped off during Real Madrid's win over Shakhtar Donetsk last night with a suspected calf injury sparking fears he could miss Wales' crucial Euro 2016 qualifiers next month.

The 26-year-old forward was replaced by Mateo Kovacic after just 32 minutes having gone down holding his calf a couple of minutes earlier.

Bale was one of three Madrid players to suffer injuries in the Champions League clash at the Bernabeu with defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane also picking up knocks as Madrid kicked off with a comfortable win.

However, manager Rafa Benitez admitted it is the injury to Bale that is most concerning.

"Obviously we have to wait," he said of the injured trio. "Two of them are kicks or knocks so we have to wait a little bit.

"Gareth is the only one I am a little bit more negative about in terms of the time so we have to wait, see the doctor and see what happens."

The injury casts doubt over whether the former Spurs man will be available for selection for Chris Coleman's Wales squad as they attempt to qualify for a first major tournament since 1958.

Wales need just one more point to reach Euro 2016 and face Bosnia-Herzegovina on October 10 before hosting Andorra three days later.

Bale himself is keeping his fingers crossed that he will not face a spell out of action, taking to social media to post on Twitter: "Great win at home to kick off our #UCL campaign, gutted to go off but hopefully nothing too serious."


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