Gareth Bale confident he will be fit for crucial Euro 2020 qualifiers

Gareth Bale believes he will be able to play a role in Wales's must-win final two Euro 2020 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Hungary, Welsh manr Ryan Giggs said on Tuesday. 30-year-old Real Madrid star has been struggling with a calf problem and has t played since scoring for Wales in ir 1-1 draw with World Cup finalists Croatia on October 13.

'It wasn't a big injury, but with short turnaround it's a worry'

However, Giggs said Bale is confident he could win race to be fit for both game in Azerbaijan on vember 16 and at home to Hungary on 19. "It wasn't a big injury, but with short turnaround it's a worry," said Giggs after naming a 27-man squad. "I'm in constant contact with him and he feels confident that he'll be fit for game. It's just monitoring it this week, literally day by day. last time I spoke to him he was confident he'd be OK." 

Welsh -- surprise semi-finalists at Euro 2016 -- are presently fourth in ir group, six points adrift of table-topping Croatia and four shy of second-placed Hungary. Both Croatia and Hungary have just one game remaining. Bale returned to light training with Real Madrid last week after a visit to London sparked more speculation about his future. This accelerated on Monday with claims Real Madrid were preparing a 70 million pound bid plus Bale to lure England striker Raheem Sterling away from Manchester City.

Giggs hopes Bale would get some game time

Giggs, who became Wales manr in January 2018 after  Chris Coleman left to take over at Sunderland, said he hoped Bale would get some game time this weekend. "That's ideal situation, that he gets minutes before meeting with us," said 45-year-old former Manchester United wing. "y're huge games and we need to win m (to qualify), we kw what we've got to do. We've played against both teams, we beat Azerbaijan and lost against Hungary."

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Aaron Ramsey has been called up

However, Real coach Zinedine Zidane said Tuesday in Madrid that Bale was still unfit to play, adding "if he is t ready to play for Wales, he won't play." Giggs has also called up Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who could make his first appearance in qualifiers after recovering from a thigh injury. "He's come on in last two games for Juventus and he's looked sharp," said Giggs. "I wouldn't say he's 100 per cent match fit but he looks good and he looks sharp."  Ar midfielder Joe Allen, like Bale and Ramsey a pivotal figure in 2016 team, is named in squad despite being suspended for trip to Azerbaijan on vember 16. 29-year-old -- presently playing for second-tier strugglers Stoke City -- will return for Hungary game in Cardiff.

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