Gareth Bale out of Wales' crucial World Cup qualifier

Two wins - away to Georgia and then at home to Ireland - likely to guarantee them at least place in next month's play-offs

FILE - In this Wednesday, July 6, 2016 file photo, Wales's Gareth Bale acknowledges the fans at the end of their Euro 2016 semifinal soccer match against Portugal, at the Grand Stade in Decines-��Charpieu, France. They were the revelation of the 2016 European Championship, a Wales team of mostly journeymen - not counting its galactico, Gareth Bale - somehow reaching the semifinals of the country��s first major soccer tournament in nearly 60 years. Their players virtually became overnight sensations. They were ahead of arch-rival England in the FIFA rankings, in 11th place when five years previously they were 117th. The comedown was sobering, if not entirely unexpected given the expectations foisted upon them. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, file)

Gareth Bale missed Real Madrid's game against Espanyol and will be out for Wales as well. Thanassis Stavrakis / AP Photo

Press Association

Oct 03, 2017

Gareth Bale has been ruled out of Wales's final two crucial World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Ireland, according to British media reports on Tuesday.

Bale's fitness has been a source of concern for the national side since he suffered a calf muscle strain against Borussia Dortmund in the Uefa Champions League last week.

The 28-year-old winger missed Real Madrid's league clash with Espanyol on Sunday but reported to the Wales camp the following morning.

SQUAD UPDATE: @GarethBale11 is ruled out of forthcoming #WCQ and will be replaced by @tombradshaw92. #GEOWAL #WALIRL https://t.co/gTAY9GrZzF
— FA WALES (@FAWales) October 3, 2017

Wales are second in Group D, four points behind leaders Serbia and one point above Ireland.

Two wins in the matches on Friday, away to Georgia, and next Monday, at home to Ireland, are likely to guarantee them at least a place in next month's play-offs for a place in Russia.

"The Football Association of Wales can confirm that Gareth Bale will miss the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Republic of Ireland," said an FAW statement.

"Bale, who missed Real Madrid's game against Espanyol on Sunday, arrived with the rest of the Wales squad on Sunday and attended Monday's annual FAW Awards dinner at the team headquarters in Cardiff.

"But following dialogue with Real Madrid, Bale was sent for a scan and results confirmed that he wouldn't be fit to feature."

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Bale's absence could open the door for Liverpool teenager Ben Woodburn to make his first Wales start.

The 17-year-old player made a dramatic introduction last month when he scored the winner within five minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute against Austria.