GARETH BALE is set to miss Wales’ crunch World Cup qualifier against Republic of Ireland.
As SunSport revealed, the Real Madrid winger faces FOUR MONTHS on the sidelines.
Guillem Balague reports in AS that further assessment to Bales’s ankle injury suggests the star is unlikely to return until the beginning of April – meaning he could miss a total of 25 games for club and country.
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Some thought the injury would only keep Bale out for a couple of months, meaning that he could return to form in time for Wales’ ‘do or Dai’ game on March 24.
Bale underwent an ankle op in London this week after breaking down with his 15TH injury since his £86million move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real then tried to allay fears by releasing a statement saying the op had been a success.
Chris Coleman‘s Dragons are already four points behind their rivals in their World Cup qualification group and a defeat in Dublin would almost certainly spell the end for their hopes of making Russia 2018.
And it will have frustrated the FAW that Bale played on for almost five minutes after going down shortly after half-time in Real’s Champions League win over Sporting last month.
25 GAMES BALE COULD MISS
Nov 26 – Sporting Gijon (H), Liga
Nov 30 – Cultural Leonesa (H), CDR
Dec 3 – Barcelona (A), Liga
Dec 7 – Dortmund (H), CL
Dec 10 – Deportivo (H), Liga
Jan 7 – Granada (H), Liga
Jan 15 – Sevilla (A), Liga
Jan 22 – Malaga (H), Liga
Jan 29 – Sociedad (H), Liga
Feb 5 – Celta Vigo (A), Liga
Feb 12 – Osasuna (A), Liga
Feb 15 – Valencia (A), Liga
Feb 19 – Espanyol (H), Liga
Feb 26 – Villarreal (A), Liga
Mar 1 – Las Palmas (H), Liga
Mar 5 – Eibar (H), Liga
Mar 12 – Betis (H), Liga
Mar 19 – Athletic Bilbao (H), Liga
Mar 24 – Rep. of Ireland, (A), WCQ
* Real play CL last-16 games on either Feb 14/15 & Mar 7&8 or Feb 21/22 and Mar 14/15.
* Los Blancos also play a semi and possibly a final in the World Club Cup on Dec 15 &18
* Bale could miss two Copa del Rey games if Real make final
Real will be be without Bale when they go in search of the win they need against Dortmund to finish top of Group F next month.
The 27-year-old is also out of Real’s ‘Clasico’ game with Barcelona on Saturday.
It is the first time Bale has required surgery since Charlie Adam’s tackle crocked his left ankle while at Spurs in May 2011.
Bale signed a monster £360,000-a-week six-year deal in October.
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A Real statement on Tuesday said: “Our player Gareth Bale has successfully come through the operation he underwent today after suffering an injury to the peroneal tendons in his right ankle.
“The operation was carried out at London’s King Edward VII Hospital by Dr James Calder and Real Madrid Sanitas’ Dr Mikel Aramberri, under the supervision of Dr Jesus Olmo, head of Real Madrid’s medical department.”
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