Gareth Bale ready for Real Madrid return

Bale's Wales will play the Republic of Ireland next month in a World Cup qualifier.

Gareth Bale is set to make his first appearance since November after Zinedine Zidane announced the Wales international will be in the Real Madrid squad to face Espanyol this weekend.

Bale has been sidelined since undergoing surgery on the ankle tendon damage he suffered during a Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon almost three months ago.