Bale fits the bill
WALES STAR IS UP TO PACE SAYS GIGGS
RYAN GIGGS has warned England that Gareth Bale will be fitter and better next month after his first 90 minutes since January.
Real Madrid’s Bale won his 85th Wales cap, playing the entire game against Bulgaria on Sunday after only managing 45 minutes against Finland last week.
Wales’ record scorer didn’t add to his 33 goals in the international double- header but the Dragons won both games 1- 0, netting late goals, to enjoy a 100 per cent start to their Nations League campaign.
Next up they visit Wembley on October 8 to take on Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions in a friendly in their own backyard.
Boss Giggs was encouraged with Bale’s efforts after he was subbed at the break in Helsinki having not featured in Real’s last eight games. Asked if former
Tottenham star Bale will be fitter and better for Wales next month, Giggs said: “Yes, he felt a lot better.
“That first 45 minutes last Thursday did him good.
“As you can expect, two days training and going into a tough away international game, it was always going to be hard for him physically, but he recovered well.
“Speaking to him in the last couple of days, it was the best he has felt for a long time.
“I think he showed that doing the 90 minutes and the desire he showed to do that.
“I would never question Gareth’s professionalism and the way he looks after himself.”
Bale, 31, admitted he was way off the pace on his return in
Finland Finland. It was his first game since his last Real appearance on June 24 as Bernabeu boss Zinedine Zidane continues to try to force out the forward, who has two years left on his more than £ 600,000- a- week contract.
His previous 90 minutes was on January 4 in a 3- 0 Real win at Getafe in La Liga.
Bale added: “The last game I was struggling but those 45 minutes did me well and I was happy to get through 90 minutes.”
Giggs was also impressed with his young players, who are stepping up to offer hope for the future, with Liverpool teenager Neco Williams getting the injurytime winner against Bulgaria.
“The strength in depth is getting there,” he said. “When you think of the players that are missing missing, also the players who are coming in.
“The likes of Dylan [ Levitt] making his debut, Ben [ Cabango] only had a couple of minutes ( in Finland), but it will help them going into the future, and that’s what we want.
“We want the fact that when we are missing four or five players we’re not weakened. There’s players that can come in and do a job.
“All the subs were involved in the goal ( against Bulgaria) and scoring late has an effect on the opposition.
“If you keep scoring late goals, it gives you belief to keep going until the end and that’s what we did. You need that desire and quality and fitness.
“I was really proud of how the players kept going because not many have played minutes and the Finns and Bulgarians had played.”