Gareth Bale worried groin injury will ruin Real Madrid debut

GARETH BALE was so worried his Real Madrid debut was in doubt because of a groin injury that he insisted on a scan to put his mind at rest.

Gareth Bale is worried his groin injury will interfere with his Real Madrid debut [GETTY]

 

Wales boss Chris Coleman revealed the most expensive player in the world suffered a groin strain last Thursday on the eve of the 2-1 World Cup defeat to Macedonia.
The £85m Real star was on the bench for the defeat in Skopje, then spent the next 48 hours fretting over the extent of the injury.

Doubt
And with Bale pencilled in to make his La Liga debut against Villarreal on Saturday, he had a scan to ease his fears.

The 24-year-old trained with his Welsh team-mates yesterday ahead of the Group A clash with Serbia in Cardiff tonight, but Coleman admits there remains a major doubt over Bale’s involvement.
Coleman said: “Gareth went for a scan just to clear his mind, so he knows he is alright. He had a tight groin from Thursday.

He kicked a ball, the turf came away, his ankle rolls and he gets a bit of a strain with his groin.
“He continues with the session, wakes up in the morning and it’s tight.

“I can see what he’s thinking. If he had 10 games building up to it, it wouldn’t have been in his head.
“But he hasn’t had any pre-season. And he’s thinking if he starts – or comes on – and that turns into something bigger then it doesn’t look good for him.

“He told me on Friday morning he wasn’t ready. I wouldn’t push anybody to take that chance.
“But we could be in a different situation to what we were in four or five days ago.

“He’s never going to be available to start, but at best he will come on for half an hour.

Bale went for a scan to put his mind at rest [GETTY]

“I promise you, hand on my heart. “If there was a chance, he would be on the pitch.”

Wales boss Chris Coleman

"If Gareth says to me he can play a part then he is coming on to the pitch."There is no way that he’s not coming on to the pitch.

“If there is any chance he can play – it only takes a player a second to change your life – he will be on the pitch.”

Coleman insists he had not been put under any pressure by Real to leave 24-year-old Bale out.
Heart

The Wales boss added: “Real Madrid have been great. There has not been one obstacle put in our way.
I promise you, hand on my heart. “If there was a chance, he would be on the pitch.”

Wales are without Jonny Williams, who is out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury.

Sam Ricketts (knee) and Ashley Williams (suspended) are out so Danny Gabbidon and Ben Davies are expected to line up at centre back.