Massive blow for Wales – Gareth Bale out for eight weeks

Gareth Bale is set for an eight-week spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury and looks set to miss Wales’ World Cup qualifiers in October and November.

The Welsh talisman has been out of action for the past week after he suffered a muscle tear in his right hamstring during a training session at the Santiago Bernabéu last Saturday, 11 September ahead of Real Madrid’s clash with Celta Vigo.

The 32-year-old also sat out the Champions League clash against Inter Milan in midweek and is now set for a lengthy spell out.

Cadena Cope journalist Miguel Ángel Díaz broke the news of Bale’s estimated layoff time on Twitter, stating that the Welsh international would be sidelined for between eight to ten weeks.

Gareth Bale estará de baja entre 8 y 10 semanas por la rotura en los isquios de la pierna derecha que se produjo hoy justo hace 1 semana.

El jugador está tocado anímicamente porque se sentía cómodo y muy implicado con Ancelotti.

— Miguel Ángel Díaz (@miguelitocope) September 18, 2021

The tweet translates as: “Gareth Bale will be out between 8 and 10 weeks due to the rupture in the hamstrings of his right leg that occurred today just 1 week ago.

“The player is emotionally upset because he felt comfortable and very involved with Ancelotti.”

Spanish newspaper Marca said, “it had been able to consult Real Madrid sources, who confirmed that the timeframe for Bale’s recovery is about eight weeks. Although, as it is a major muscle tear, the margins regarding his layoff period can be wide.”

If the forecast of two months is correct, Bale would conceivably be fully recovered by November 6, but would surely still be a major doubt for Wales’ two final qualifiers at home to Belarus on Saturday, November 13 and Belgium on Tuesday, November 16.

Hamstring

It had been reported last week that Carlo Ancelotti had said that Bale would be out for “a few days” with the injury he picked up in training.

This contradicted the Spanish media which had reported at the time that the Wales captain had a long-term injury to the hamstring of his right leg, but according to Real Madrid’s head coach the injury was not as bad as was initially feared.

Spanish newspaper Marca had shared images of the player leaving the stadium visibly limping and with a bulky bandage on the thigh of his right leg.

It now appears every Wales’ fan’s worst fears have been realised.