Gareth Bale has declared himself 100% fit to start Wales’ crunch World Cup play-off semi-final this week despite suffering an injury scare.
The Wales skipper and record scorer was absent from Real Madrid ’s 23-man squad against Barcelona on Sunday. Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti threw Bale’s fitness into doubt after his side’s 4-0 home defeat to Barca by saying the ace "didn't feel well.”
Bale, 32, is understood to have missed two days’ training with a back spasm but has reassured concerned team-mates and FAW staff that he will be ready to face Austria after linking up with the Wales squad. Robert Page’s side face Austria in a one-legged play-off semi-final on Thursday in Cardiff. If they win, they will then take on either Scotland or Ukraine in the Welsh capital in June for a place at Qatar 2022.