Gareth Bale in action at Euro 2016 has now been ruled out for these upcoming vital games. (Credit: Al Robinson)
Wales star man Gareth Bale will play no part in his country's final two World Cup group stage qualifying matches.
The Real Madrid ace joined up with his colleagues on Sunday and actually part participated in the first Welsh training session for the games against Georgia on Friday and home to Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland next Monday. His club boss Zinedine Zidane had even initially felt Bale would be fit to line out in Tbilisi but now that appears not to be the case.
A scan on a calf strain suffered in Real’s Champions League victory in Dortmund, has forced the ex-Spurs man's withdrawal, which represents a blow to Chris Coleman's side's prospects of progressing. Bale was not involved on Sunday when Real beat Espanyol and will now miss Wales’ World Cup qualifying run-in.
Bale’s replacement in the Welsh squad will come in the form of striker Tom Bradshaw (Barnsley).
Gareth Bale has played in seven of Wales eight games in current World Cup qualifying Group D, scoring three goals.
John Manning
John Manning began writing for Extratime.ie this year after retiring from the insurance industry. He has been a regular attendee at League of Ireland football matches since the 1970s. He has particularly supported Cork Hibs, Cork Celtic, Cork United, Cork City but has attended many other matches also.
He was formerly Webmaster of the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland website (www.ppui.ie) to which he still contributes. He is currently Webmaster of the International Pitch and Putt Association website (www.fippa.org).
John broadcast Pitch and Putt on the airwaves from 1994 to 2005 – on CKR, KFM, KCLR FM, Midlands Radio 3, Radio Kerry and Cork 103 FM.
John held many administrative posts within the sport of Pitch and Putt
· Treasurer Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland 1992-93
· Public Relations Officer Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland 1994 – 2005
· General Secretary European Pitch and Putt Association 2000 - 2010
John Manning was the Editor of ‘Backspin’ – official monthly magazine of the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland – between 1989 and 2005. He still currently contributes to ‘Backspin’.
He is a fervent supporter of the Republic of Ireland football team – home and sometimes away.
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