'Bale not fit to last full match'

Real Madrid's record signing Gareth Bale is not fit enough to last a full match and it would be "dangerous" to make him play 90 minutes if he debuts in Saturday's La Liga match at Villarreal, according to Wales coach Chris Coleman.

Bale, who became the world's most expensive player when he joined Real for 100 million euros at the start of the month, played the final half an hour of Wales' 3-0 World Cup qualification defeat to Serbia on Tuesday, his first competitive action since July.

"We have looked at him in these 10 days and he is nowhere near ready for 90 minutes even if Spanish football is slower," Coleman was quoted as saying on the FIFA website on Wednesday.

"If he starts (on) Saturday, he will not finish the game. I would be amazed if he does," he added.

"He may get 45 minutes, I don't know, but he will feel better in himself after 30 minutes here.

"But he has only had four training sessions in two months which is dangerous.”
Coleman also pointed out that Bale looked tired after playing for 15 minutes.

"He played 30 minutes but after 15 minutes he looked tired – but he has only had four training sessions, so you will not get what you normally get," Coleman said.