Gareth Bale is being tipped to be “on fire” for Wales in their September games after filling the huge void at Real Madrid after Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit.
Welsh wizard Bale is poised to win his 71st cap next week in the new UEFA Nations League and will looking to add to his record 29 international goals in the double-header against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark.
Dragons boss Ryan Giggs is looking forward to linking up with the superstar after naming his squad on Wednesday.
Bale has already scored in both Real’s La Liga wins so far following Ronaldo’s £99m sale to Juventus, and Giggs said: “It’s a massive void to fill but Gareth has the experience now of being at the club for a long time.
“He has shown his qualities in big games as well. Every year there is pressure on him and he has handled it brilliantly. But it’s a bit different this year because Cristiano has left and there will be more focus on the players who are going to replace the goals because of a player like Cristiano has gone.
“But Gareth can handle anything that is thrown at him.
“When someone like Cristiano leaves there is always going to be a spotlight on who is going to replace him goal-wise and threat-wise. But Gareth ended last season scoring goals, even though he wasn’t playing as regular.
“This season he has started on fire. There’s never really a time when he is not playing well.
“I think always the problem with Gareth has been injured, he’s then had to come back and get more game time. But when he plays he always plays well and more or less scores.”
Manchester United legend Giggs played with Ronaldo at Old Trafford previously and says clubs can cope without him.
Giggs smiled: “You’ve got more chance of getting to the mirror — it was a lot easier when he left!
“Within the dressing room, you just get on with it. You realise it is ships in the night, players come and go.
“Of course, when a special player leaves then it’s different. At United, we had Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and Ronaldo. All those players left, but the club still goes on. It’s a challenge for yourself to up your game and stop the questions being asked.”
Giggs added he felt it was “ridiculous” that Ronaldo pipped Bale to the UEFA goal of the season award after his compatriot’s stunning overhead kick in the Champions League final.
Striker Hal Robson Kanu, who has retired from international football, and defender Neil Taylor are not in Wales’ latest squad. Newcastle defender Paul Dummett, who previously asked not to be selected, is recalled.
Robson-Kanu retires after 44 appearances and five goals — including Wales’ second featuring a stunning Cruyff turn in their Euro 2016 quarter-final win over Belgium.
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