The Tottenham Hotspur player, who picked up a knock against Fulham last weekend, did not train yesterday but the Wales backroom team insisted it was merely routine procedure for a player who featured for his club on Sunday to receive an extra day's rest.

Bale scored both as Wales beat Scotland in Cardiff last October and is expected to be the main threat again. "There is no bad news," said Kit Symons, the assistant manager. "We have very strict protocols within our group and, having played on Sunday, Gareth was never going to train."