Bale 'fit and ready to go' for Wales at World Cup after injury concerns
Wales may have feared they would be without Gareth Bale at the World Cup, though the winger provided a positive fitness update on Monday.
Gareth Bale is "100 percent fit and ready to go" for Wales at the World Cup in Qatar after battling injury issues.
The former Real Madrid winger's fitness had been a concern before Robert Page named his 26-man squad for Wales' first appearance at the World Cup in 64 years.
Bale has only started twice for Los Angeles FC since joining from Madrid in July, managing just 370 minutes on the pitch.
However, he scored an extra-time equalizer as a substitute against Philadelphia Union in the MLS Cup final, which LAFC won on penalties on November 5.
"I'm 100 percent fit and ready to go," the Wales international told Sky Sports after revealing his struggles with a "slight issue".
Bale suggested playing the United States, England, and Iran in Group B in the space of nine days would be "no problem", with the mental aspects of being sidelined more of a problem than the physical side.
"I'm fully fit and ready to go. If I need to play three 90s, I'll play three 90s," he added. "It's been difficult, mentally more than anything.
"I guess for everybody, the last three or four weeks, it's been difficult, even hearing stories of players going down and knowing they're going to miss the World Cup.
"Speaking to a few of the boys, even for them having to play this weekend was tough mentally, and we're just praying not to have an injury at all because it's such a big occasion."