Bale named in latest Wales squad

Posted Thursday, November 06, 2014 by Foxsports.com

Gareth Bale has been included in the Wales squad to face Belgium in their Euro 2016 qualifier next weekend despite the forward's recent injury absence.

The most expensive footballer of all time made his return for Real Madrid for the final 30 minutes of their Champions League victory over Liverpool on Tuesday night having missed their previous five matches with a buttock muscle injury he picked up in Wales' victory over Cyrpus last month.

But he is named in a strong Welsh squad ahead of next Sunday's clash in Brussels along with midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen who make welcome returns after injury but there is no place for the suspended Andy King, who serves the first of a two-match suspension, and injured trio Simon Church, Sam Vokes and David Edwards.

Edwards, who earned his 27th cap last month, sustained knee ligament damage as Wolves lost 2-1 to Ipswich on Tuesday evening, while the game comes too soon for Church (collarbone) and long-term absentee Vokes (knee).

Midfielder Jonny Williams limped out of their 0-0 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina and missed the 2-1 win over Cyprus three days later but he also returns to the fold along with the likes of West Ham defender James Collins, Wigan's Emyr Huws and Celtic right-back Adam Matthews, who all sat out October's double-header.

Uncapped pair Lee Evans and Paul Dummett were also forced to pull out of that squad and return to boost Coleman's numbers.

Also on board is Fulham boss Kit Symons. There was speculation that the Wales assistant manager would be giving up his international commitments to focus on his club, having been handed the reins at Craven Cottage on a full-time basis, but Coleman confirmed that Symons will fly out with the squad.

Three points against Cyprus in Cardiff in October left the Welsh top of Group B with seven points from three games.

They face a tough task against a Belgian side that reached the quarter-finals of this summer's World Cup, but Coleman's men can take confidence from their 1-1 draw in Belgium earlier this year at the end of their unsuccessful qualification campaign for Brazil.

Wales, who have lost just one of their last eight, know a shock victory on Sunday would leave them top of their qualification group until June 2015.