Wednesday 4 November 2015 12:46, UK
Gareth Bale is close to returning from injury, according to Real Madrid head coach Rafael Benitez.
Bale played both Euro 2016 Qualifying matches for Wales against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Andorra in October even though he had not started a game for Real for almost a month due to a thigh injury but has been left out of the squad for this month's friendlies.
The Welsh international started Real Madrid's 3-0 win against Levante four days later, only to be substituted at half-time with a recurring calf injury.
His decision to play for Wales led to criticism from some in the Spanish media, with AS journalist Tomas Roncero calling his decision to play against Andorra "irresponsible" and saying he has "mocked" Real Madrid.
Bale has not been selected in Wales' squad for their upcoming friendly against Netherlands on November 13, but Benitez claims the 26-year-old looks close to making a return for Los Rojiblancos after missing their last four matches.
"When you play so many games together then the risk of injury increases and this is unfortunately what has happened," Benitez told a press conference after their 1-0 win over Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
"On the positive side we do have players coming back. Pepe and James are available while Bale and (Dani) Carvajal are close to being ready."
The former Liverpool manager's side clinched a place in the last 16 and boast a defence that has only conceded four goals in 14 games in all competitions, but the pressure is starting to grow on the coach at the Bernabeu where there is a demand for thrilling football.
"Our objective is always to go out and attack and it isn't to not concede but you also have to consider the quality of the opposition and you have to adapt your game," Benitez said.
"If you look at the players that score most of the goals for us then we have three of them who were not playing.
"We have qualified for the next round without a lot of important players."
