Wales have been forced to shake-up their goalkeeping options, but neither Ryan Giggs nor Robert Page have been given a platform to discuss them. With Giggs having stood down from his duties following his arrest on Sunday night and his assistant Page placed in charge, the Football Association of Wales have announced their latest squad but held no press conference. Giggs was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a woman on Sunday night and later bailed over an alleged row with “on-off girlfriend” Kate Greville at his Manchester home on Sunday, The Sun newspaper reported.

Gareth Bale has admitted he is still short of his best form after making his first start for Tottenham since rejoining the club.The Wales captain played just over an hour of his club’s 3-0 over LASK in the Europa League on Thursday night, before confessing he still has work to do on his fitness. There were occasional touches of class, such as the cross that led to the Austrians conceding an own goal, before Bale revealed he feels he is still at the pre-season stage of his own fitness.

Gareth Bale has been warned he may have to get used to an uncomfortable subs’ bench as often as a “beautiful chair” at Tottenham. The suggestion was made by Spurs manager Jose Mourinho in the wake of Bale’s second debut for the club following his loan move from Real Madrid. Mourinho did not think the introduction of the Wales captain was the catalyst for his side’s late capitulation against West Ham.

Joe Rodon has hailed Jose Mourinho as one of the biggest managers in football after completing a dream move to Tottenham. And the centre-back is relishing linking up with fellow Welsh internationals Gareth Bale and Ben Davies after signing a deal until 2025.

Ben Woodburn is relishing the chance to link-up with his old Liverpool U23 boss Neil Critchley after joining Blackpool on a temporary loan. The 10-times capped Wales international is hoping the move to the League One outfit – now managed by Critchley – will give him the game time he badly needs.

Luka Modric has jumped to the defence of Gareth Bale saying criticism of his time at Real Madrid is unfair. The Croatian midfielder insisted Bale – who has returned to former club Tottenham on loan – was never a bad influence in the dressing room 

Ryan Giggs admits he was playing the long game when he agreed with Tottenham that Gareth Bale should be left out of the Wales squad. The Wales manager will be without his captain, talisman and match-winner for the England friendly on October 8 and the following Nations League games away to the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria. It comes after Bale is yet to make his second debut for Spurs since rejoining the London club on a season-long loan from Real Madrid earlier this month.

Ryan Giggs says Wales’ friendly with England at Wembley will be perfect build-up for the Nations Cup – after arranging the behind-closed-doors game on a whim. The nations will face each other on October 8 just days before Wales’ crucial trip to face the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria.

Gareth Bale has said he coped with his Real Madrid nightmare by learning not to take criticism too personally. The Wales captain has revealed his coping strategy during his frustrating final few months in Spain – during which time he became a target for anger and derision among some sections of the club’s supporters and Spanish media – by shrugging his shoulders and smiling on through. Bale joined Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan earlier this month seven years after having departed north London for a then world-record transfer fee.

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is hopeful Gareth Bale can stay at the club beyond his season-long loan deal. The Wales captain has returned to Spurs on loan, seven years after leaving the north London club for Real Madrid in an £86m transfer. Asked if Bale will stay at the club for more than a year, Mourinho said: “If everybody’s happy, it would be perfect.

Gareth Bale’s return to Tottenham will spark an immediate impact within Jose Mourinho’s squad, according to Wales manager Ryan Giggs. Bale may have been on the sidelines at his new club as Spurs thrashed Southampton 5-2 at the weekend, but that may be only the start of a more lasting influence according to his international boss. Reflecting on Bale’s loan move from Real Madrid, Giggs said: “It’s a huge boost when you see someone like that walk through the door.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has hailed Gareth Bale’s time at the Spanish giants as ‘spectacular’ as the Wales ace edges closer to a return to Tottenham. Bale is still finalizing the loan move back to his former club having flown into London on Friday.