Bale on course to lead Wales into Euro 2016
AFP, LONDON
AFP, LONDON: Gareth Bale is set to play a key role in Wales crucial Euro 2016 ties against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Andorra after being named in manager Chris Colemans 25-man squad on Thursday.
With Wales needing only one point to end a 58-year wait to play at a major tournament in France next summer, Coleman is still sweating on Bales fitness.
The striker has missed Real Madrids last three games with a calf injury but is set to return against derby rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
However, Coleman says
he will select Bale for the Bosnia game in Zenica on October 10, even if the 26-year-old will not have played a single minute for Real since suffering the injury on September 15. Gareth
has been incredibly important for us, so we dont want to be going into these two games without him, Coleman said.
The news out of Madrid is positive and at the moment were very hopeful and looking forward to having him on board.
Bale has been directly involved in eight of Wales nine goals, scoring six of them, as Colemans side top the Group B standings and move tantalisingly close to their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
Coleman has also been able to welcome Joe Allen back into his squad.
The Liverpool midfielder missed last months double-header against Cyprus and Israel with a hamstring injury and his stabilising influence was missed, even though Wales collected four points from those two qualifiers.
Wales squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Bosnia in Zenica on October 10, and Andorra in Cardiff three days later, announced on Thursday by manager Chris Coleman.
