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| Gareth Bale has lead Wales to the brink of qualification for Euro 2016 |
CHRIS COLEMAN admits he will breathe a huge sigh of relief should a fully-fit Gareth Bale walk through the doors of the Wales team hotel on Sunday.
Real Madrid superstar Bale is available for the Euro 2016 qualification double header against Cyprus and Israel, after scans on a toe problem suffered on club duty revealed no break.
"It's normally when I arrive here and see the faces walking through the door, that's when I take a deep breath.
It means the 26-year-old will feature for the Spanish giants against Real Betis on Saturday night, before making his way to Cardiff to link up with Coleman and the rest of the Dragons squad for a double-header which could see them secure their place at next summer's finals.
If Wales are to reach a first major finals since 1958, Bale will, as always, be the key man, and it means Coleman will cut a restless figure until the Manchester United target arrives on home soil.
"I hope Gareth plays for Madrid on the weekend because that means he's raring to go," said Coleman. "But I'm always the same. I'll have an eye on what happens on Saturday with all our players. I almost lock myself in a dark room. I'll be hoping once that final whistle goes that I do not get any phone calls.
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| Chris Coleman's Wales are currently ninth in the FIFA world rankings, one place below England |
"Of course, as soon as I see Gareth walking through the door that generally means I can relax, heave a sigh of relief, go upstairs and have a cup of coffee."
Bale's hero status in Wales is assured with his five goals in six Group B games the driving force behind the unbeaten start to the campaign.
But in Madrid the acclaim has not been as universal, with fans and press quick to criticise the world's most expensive player.
However, new Bernabeu boss Rafa Benitez has been keen to underline his commitment to Bale, and has used him in a central role, more akin to how Wales have utilised him over the last 18 months.
Coleman is confident the trials and tribulations of last season will soon be forgotten, but has no doubt they will have made Bale a better player and will remain in Spain this season.
"What happened to Gareth last year was good for him and he'll be better for it," said Coleman. "Of course even when you're playing well for Real Madrid you're under scrutiny, he knew that before he arrived.
"When he was getting negative publicity last year, in his position you can start thinking there is a hidden agenda. But he came through it.
"He turned up for us in the summer and he was smiling, and he has grown in confidence for that experience.
"That's why I don't think he'll be coming home in this window. I think he wants to stay out there and he wants to achieve at Madrid."
While Bale is included in Coleman's 23-man squad, Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has not recovered from a hamstring injury and misses out.
Allen was already suspended for the game against Cyprus in Nicosia after picking up three bookings during the campaign, but Coleman admitted he was close to making the cut.
"We were pretty optimistic on Joe until very recently," he said. "It is disappointing because we have been without Emyr Huws for a while because of injury, and he can play that holding position like Joe."
Tottenham's Ben Davies and West Ham's James Collins returned to the squad having missed the June win over Belgium through injury, while Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards has earned a recall.
There is also a first call-up for Liverpool youngster Jordan Williams.
SQUAD: Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Ward (Aberdeen), Fon Williams (Inverness), Williams (Swansea), Chester (West Brom), Collins (West Ham), Davies (Tottenham), Gunter (Reading), Taylor (Swansea), Henley (Blackburn), Richards (Fulham), Ledley (Crystal Palace), Ramsey (Arsenal), J Williams (Liverpool), King (Leicester), Edwards (Wolves), MacDonald (Bournemouth), Cotterill (Birmingham), Robson-Kanu (Reading), Lawrence (Blackburn), Bale (Real Madrid), Church (MK Dons), Vokes (Burnley).
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