Gareth Bale not included in Wales squad for pre-Euro 2016 friendlies

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 18 March 2016

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale is left out of Chris Coleman's Wales squad for pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Northern Ireland and Ukraine.

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has not been included in Chris Coleman's Wales squad for upcoming friendlies against Northern Ireland and Ukraine.

The 26-year-old, who scored six goals and provided two assists in Wales's Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, will stay in Madrid following a calf injury.

Coleman has revealed that he and Bale's club agreed that it would be in the player's interests for him to sit out of the friendlies.

The Wales boss told reporters: "It was a joint decision. Real Madrid have been absolutely first class.

"Both parties think it's best that he stays where he is. He'll benefit from that between now and the end of the season."

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has also been omitted from the squad for the friendly against Northern Ireland, which will be held on March 24, and Ukraine, which will kick off four days later.

Wales squad:

Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace)
Daniel Ward (Liverpool)
Owain Fôn Williams (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)

Ashley Williams (Swansea City)
James Chester (West Bromwich Albion)
Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
Chris Gunter (Reading)
Adam Matthews (Sunderland, on loan with Bristol City)
Neil Taylor (Swansea City)
Adam Henley (Blackburn Rovers)
Ashley Richards (Fulham)

Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace)
Joe Allen (Liverpool)
David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest)
Emyr Huws (Wigan Athletic, on loan with Huddersfield Town)
Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace, on loan with MK Dons)
Shaun MacDonald (AFC Bournemouth)
George Williams (Fulham, on loan with Gillingham)
Lloyd Isgrove (Southampton, on loan with Barnsley)
Andrew Crofts (Brighton & Hove Albion)

David Cotterill (Birmingham City)
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
Tom Lawrence (Leicester City, on loan with Cardiff City)
Simon Church (Milton Keynes Dons, on loan with Aberdeen)
Sam Vokes (Burnley)
Tom Bradshaw (Walsall)