China’s perfect for Bale
RYAN GIGGS wants to help reignite Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid career.
Bale (below) has been left out of Zinedine Zidane’s first-choice Champions League side this season and has struggled with calf and hamstring problems.
But Wales boss Giggs believes having him available for next week’s China Cup will be a boost to both Bale and his team.
“There are players for whom China is an ideal trip to get games and minutes under their belt, and it is the same for Gareth,” said Giggs.
“He’s started the majority of Real’s league games, but it’s just the last two in the Champions League.
“I was at the first game with PSG where he came on and did well in the last 20 or 25 minutes.
“All players who go out to China are preparing for playing both the games and Gareth falls into that.
“You want your best players available and Gareth is a tremendous player. He’s someone who lights up the pitch. He’s got a game, like most of the squad, at the weekend, so we’re constantly monitoring the players injury-wise. “We’re looking forward to him travelling with us.”
The first batch of Wales players will depart for China on Monday with a second party – Bale among them – leaving on Tuesday, depending on when they’ve played at the weekend.
Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey will not be among them as he will undergo a “small procedure” during the international break.
Wales face China in Nanning next Thursday and then either Uruguay or Czech Republic the following Tuesday.
The games are Giggs’ first in charge of his country and the former Manchester United star is keen to win silverware at the earliest opportunity. SQUAD: Hennessey, Maxwell, Crowe; Williams, Chester, Davies, Gunter, Taylor, John, Roberts, Ampadu, Lockyer; Allen, Ledley, Evans, King, Hedges, Mepham, Watkins; Lawrence, Bale, Woodburn, Wilson, Bodin, Vokes, Bradshaw.