Gareth Bale Injury: Updates on Real Madrid Star's Calf and Return

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale is closing in on a return after he departed Sept. 15's UEFA Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk with a calf injury.

On Thursday, Bale was tipped by AS to return to club action in time for Oct. 4's Madrid derby.

Continue for updates.

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Wales Confident Over Bale Recovery

Thursday, Oct. 1

"The news out of Real Madrid is positive. We are hopeful of having Gareth on board," Wales boss Chris Coleman said at his squad announcement, per Juliette Ferrington of BBC Sport.

Wales travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Oct. 10, before facing Andorra three days later.

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Madrid to be Boosted by Bale Return

Tuesday, Sept. 15 

Along with Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Tottenham man is Real's most potent attacking force. Bale is able to turn a game on its head with his pace and power.

Even last season, when he came under pressure for underperforming, Bale still netted 13 goals and provided nine assists in La Liga as proof of his importance to the Santiago Bernabeu club, per WhoScored.com.

Los Blancos have plenty of reserves to draw on in attack with the likes of Isco and Jese able take up a variety of forward positions. But Bale offers a level of physicality and speed that brings an added dimension to Real's play—especially when in tandem with Ronaldo.