Real Madrid: Gareth Bale set for 8-week layoff due to hamstring injury

Gareth Bale is set for an eight-week spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury and will not be available to coach Carlo Ancelotti again until November.

The Welshman has been out of action for the past week after he suffered a muscle tear in his right hamstring during a training session at the Santiago Bernabéu last Saturday, 11 September ahead of Los Blancos clash with Celta Vigo on Sunday - a game he subsequently missed. The 32-year-old also sat out the Champions League clash against Inter Milan midweek and is now set to miss up to a dozen more.

Cadena Cope journalist Miguel Ángel Díaz broke the news of Bale’s estimated layoff time on Twitter, stating that the Welsh international would be sidelined for between eight to ten weeks.

AS has been able to consult Real Madrid sources, who confirmed that the timeframe for Bale’s recovery is about eight weeks. Although, as it is a major muscle tear, the margins regarding his layoff period can be wide.

If the forecast of two months is correct, Bale would be fully recovered by 6 November, therefore he would miss the 12 upcoming games against Valencia, Mallorca, Villarreal, Sheriff, Espanyol, Athletic, Shakhtar, Barcelona, Osasuna, Elche, Shakhtar again and Rayo Vallecano.

This is Bale’s 24th injury at Real Madrid

With the international break in mid-November, it seems realistic that the Welshman would return after the game against Granada on the weekend of 20-21 November.

Bale had started the season well following a loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur last year. He started all three opening LaLiga games for Ancelotti, who coached Bale during his first spell at Madrid and was planning to give the Welshman plenty of prominence in his team over the coming weeks and months.

The Welsh striker managed a goal in the 3-3 draw against Levante in matchday 2 after an impressive showing in the 1-4 opening day win over Alavés.

Bale has been plagued by injuries throughout his Real Madrid career, with his latest injury counting as his 24th since he joined Madrid from Tottenhman in 2013. His contract with Madrid expires in June 2020 and it is expected that the Welshman will move on next summer with no offer of a renewal on the table.