Gareth Bale ruled out of crunch internationals

Wales star man Gareth Bale will play no part in his country's final two World Cup group stage qualifying matches.

The Real Madrid ace joined up with his colleagues on Sunday and actually part participated in the first Welsh training session for the games against Georgia on Friday and home to Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland next Monday. His club boss Zinedine Zidane had even initially felt Bale would be fit to line out in Tbilisi but now that appears not to be the case.

A scan on a calf strain suffered in Real’s Champions League victory in Dortmund, has forced the ex-Spurs man's withdrawal, which represents a blow to Chris Coleman's side's prospects of progressing. Bale was not involved on Sunday when Real beat Espanyol and will now miss Wales’ World Cup qualifying run-in.

Bale’s replacement in the Welsh squad will come in the form of striker Tom Bradshaw (Barnsley).

Gareth Bale has played in seven of Wales eight games in current World Cup qualifying Group D, scoring three goals.