Bale trains after scan on groin strain
CARDIFF, United Kingdom (AFP) - Real Madrid new-boy Gareth Bale took part in a training session with his Wales team-mates on Monday after going for a scan on a groin strain.
Bale joined Spanish giants Real from Tottenham Hotspur last week in a deal widely reported to be the world's most expensive transfer at around 100 million euros ($132.5 million).
But Bale was an unused substitute for his country's 2-1 loss to Macedonia in Skopje on Friday and Wales manager Chris Coleman revealed on Monday that the winger was left on the sidelines because of a groin injury suffered in training.
However, Bale's groin problem doesn't appear that serious as, after the scan, he trained with Wales ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Serbia in Cardiff.
"We had a conversation with Gareth before the game, he had a tight groin from the day before and we could not take that chance," Coleman said.
Bale has not played since mid-July due to a foot problem and his latest injury concern comes just days before he is scheduled to make his Madrid debut at Villarreal this weekend.
Coleman admitted the 24-year-old suffered the problem during Wales's training session at the Philip II Arena on Thursday.
But he is still hopeful Bale will play some part against Serbia on Tuesday.
"We went into the Macedonia game with everything great," said Coleman, whose team can't qualify for next year's finals in Brazil.
"Gareth gets his move to Real Madrid, everything is positive.
"Then Gareth picks up a strain in training and can't play in the game, which is disappointing.
"He was never going to be available to start either of these games but at best he would have come on for maybe half an hour.
"There is a small chance of that tomorrow (Tuesday) night, we will see when we get the scan results back and how he feels."
