Gareth Bale in fitness race as Wales name squad for crunch World Cup qualifiers

Gareth Bale has been named in Wales' squad for their crunch World Cup qualifiers despite not yet recovering fully from injury.

Wales' captain and record scorer Bale is in the final stages of rehabilitation with Real Madrid after injuring a hamstring in September in training.

He is yet to train fully but is desperate to win his 100th cap in Wales' final World Cup qualifiers at home to Belarus and Belgium.

Rob Page's side need four points from their final two games to guarantee second place in Group E and a favourable play-off draw.

It has left Bale,32, who has 36 international goals, in a race against time to be fit for next Saturday's visit by basement side Belarus.

Wales are confident Gareth Bale will be able to lead them against Belarus in Cardiff on Saturday November 13 ( Image:

REUTERS)

But Wales boss Page, who will be without the suspended Kieffer Moore against Belarus, insists he expects the ace to be ready.

Page said: "He's in a good place.

"He's exactly where we and the medical team thought he should be and could be.

"I spoke with him personally last week and he's raring to go.

"He's doing everything possible to get himself 100% fit.

"He's back on the grass.

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Gareth Bale and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti have a long-term relationship from his previous spell managing the club ( Image:

Real Madrid via Getty Images)

"He's not in full time training yet but he's got another week yet.

"He's a fit lad, he doesn't half look after himself really well.

"I know you can do all of the training in the world and it's not the same as playing games, but when you've got somebody like Gareth Bale coming back into the squad, you will absolutely be considered for starting games.

"We will have to assess it but we are confident at the moment not only will he turn up but be fit to play as well."

Bale was loaned to Spurs last term but is back in the fold this term at Real Madrid after Carlo Ancelotti replaced Zinedine Zidane as manager.

Gareth Bale is yet to resume full training with Real Madrid but has been named in Wales' squad ( Image:

Action Images via Reuters)

Page doesn't expect the star's Spanish club to block him playing international football despite not playing for them beforehand to prove his fitness.

Page added: "If he declares himself fit then I can't see why they wouldn't.

"I think he has a good relationship now with the manager and medical team there.

"So have we.

"There are conversations to be had and it is about trust.

"They can absolutely trust our medical team and if we have to adhere to a plan they would rather put in place then we will absolutely be prepared to do it because we want Gareth Bale as part of the squad."

Bale is preparing to win his 100th cap after missing last month's away double header in the Czech Republic and Estonia.

Page said: "I had the pleasure of being on camp for Chris Gunter's 100th cap and to get 100 caps is something special.

"But I know him as a person and his complete focus will be on just getting the three points.

"When we do that he will celebrate his 100th cap after.

"He wouldn't want it to distract from the job in hand which again speaks volumes of him as a player and a person."

Wales will be without David Brooks who announced last month he has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, during the last international camp.

"He knows we are fully supportive of him and fully behind him," said Page.

Wales squad in full: Hennessey, Ward, A Davies, Gunter, B Davies, Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, N Williams, Lawrence, Norrington-Davies, Cabango, Ramsey, Allen, Ampadu, J Williams, Wilson, Morrell, Levitt, Vaulks, Thomas, Bale, James, Moore, Roberts, Johnson, Colwill, Harris.