BALE FORCE

Fighting-fit Gareth ready to blow ’em away, says stand-in boss Page

GARETH BALE looks close to his best again and stand-in Wales boss Rob Page believes the move to Spurs has the Dragons star smiling once more.

Wales’ record scorer is in line for his 86th cap tonight against the USA in Swansea.

He missed his country’s previous three fixtures to work on his fitness after returning to Tottenham on loan from Real Madrid.

Bale, whose relationship with Bernabeu boss Zinedine

Zidane was turning increasingly bitter, has 33 goals for Wales and is already off the mark for Spurs.

Page, in charge while boss Ryan Giggs is involved in a police investigation, is expecting big things. “I’ve had a conversation with Gareth and he’s raring to go and is fighting fit,” he said.

“Since I’ve been involved with the squad, it’s the first time he has been at a club where he seems to be enjoying his football and his training.

“He looks fit and feels fit. It is good to have a fully fit Gareth Bale involved.”

Bale joins club team-mates Ben Davies and Joe Rodon in the Wales squad.

But Spurs boss Jose Mourinho says he is “uncomfortable” Albert Stuivenberg, assistant at north London rival Arsenal, is part of Dragons coaching team.

Former Wales Under-21 manager Page said: “Albert has been involved in the Welsh set-up for a couple of years and there have never been any issues. But I can empathise with what Jose’s saying. We’re borrowing his players to come and play for Wales so of course we’re going to look after them.

“We’re not going to undo any work that’s been done at club level. It’s elite sport and elite preparation for games.”

With Giggs absent, Page (right) is in charge for the next three games, including Nations League home ties against Ireland and Finland.

He says Giggs will have an input on team selection but Page is taking training and spoke to the players this week as he aims to continue a nine-game unbeaten run in competitive fixtures.

He explained: “Ryan is not here as a presence but I’ve not seen any sign they have taken their foot off the gas. It was important for me that nothing changes.

“The biggest thing for us is to keep this momentum going.”