Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has reportedly decided to hand a recall to Gareth Bale for the club's fixtures in January.
Bale has missed the majority of the campaign through injury, with just four substitute appearances being made since September 26.
However, the Welsh star successfully came through two Club World Cup fixtures earlier this month before being given an outing from the bench in Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Barcelona.
According to Marca, the result at the weekend has led to Zidane opting to give Bale an opportunity in the starting lineup, despite reports frequently linking the 28-year-old with a move away from the Bernabeu.
Zidane finds himself under pressure to keep his job, with Real sitting 14 points adrift of Barcelona in the La Liga standings and the club being drawn to face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Real return to action on January 4 when they face Numancia in the Copa del Rey, before travelling to Celta Vigo for a league fixture on January 7.
Darren Plant
