Gareth Bale: 'Injury rumours greatly exaggerated'

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale has calmed fears over his fitness by insisting that his recent injury was "blown massively out of proportion".

The world's most expensive player came off the bench to win Los Blancos a penalty in their 2-0 victory over Malaga on Saturday - his first appearance since the Madrid derby almost three weeks ago.

Reports had claimed that the Welshman was sidelined with a slipped disc in his back, but Bale has insisted that it was only a "minor" muscle strain that was preventing him from playing.

"It was just a little thigh strain that was blown massively out of proportion," he told Real Madrid TV. "It is just a minor injury and I'm back now.

"I've not had a lot of game time, pre-season, training or running so you pick up little niggles. I have to take one step at a time. I've not had much training or games. It's all about building me up now."

Bale, 24, has scored one goal in four appearances for Real since joining them in an £85m move from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.