Zinedine Zidane urges caution over Gareth Bale injury

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has admitted that he would 'prefer Gareth Bale did not play' a part in Wales's crunch World Cup qualifiers over the next week.

The Dragons' main man picked up a calf injury in the 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund last week and was withdrawn from Los Blancos' 18-man squad to face Espanyol on Sunday as a precaution.

Bale arrived for Wales training at their Vale of Glamorgan HQ on Monday morning, but he trained away from the rest of his teammates.

Speaking after his side's 2-0 win against Espanyol, Zidane urged the Dragons to handle the 28-year-old's injury problem with care.

"Gareth will go with his national team," he told reporters. "He has not played, but as he still has a bit of an issue and we would prefer him not to play."

Wales face Georgia in Tbilisi on Friday evening, before playing host to Republic of Ireland in a possible make-or-break qualifier in Cardiff three days later.