Ryan Giggs insists he is not in danger of upsetting Real Madrid by taking Gareth Bale to Albania to play in Tuesday night’s friendly.
The Wales manager chose to take Bale with the squad to Elbasan, even though the player has suffered from a number of injuries this season that have sparked debate in Spain over his commitment to the club’s cause compared to his desire to play for his country.
Bale will have travelled over 3,000 miles by the time he returns to Madrid before he is expected to be available for La Liga action at Eibar on Saturday.
But Giggs said: “There’s no concern over (upsetting) Madrid. Gareth is in good hands.
“He always wants to play for his country and he wants to be here for Chris Gunter on what will be a special night.
“All those things mean it’s great he’s here and it gives everyone a lift when he’s in the squad. No one has ever doubted his commitment to Wales.”
Bale came in for criticism from Real Madrid fans earlier this season when he came off injured against Atletico Madrid, missed the club’s shock Champions League defeat to CSKA Moscow in Russia, and also limped off in the loss to Alaves.
He then hopped on a plane and tried to play for Wales in the friendly against Spain in Cardiff.
Bale eventually pulled out of that match, and the following Nations League clash against the Republic of Ireland, but it was noticeable that Real Madrid made him train with them on his return almost as soon as he had cleared the airport.
Wales’ final game of 2017 comes after the disappointment of a 2-1 home defeat to Denmark and missing out on a place in the top tier of the Nations League.
The game is notable, however, since Gunter will become the most capped Wales player after Giggs confirmed the Reading full-back will start in Elbasan.
The 29-year-old will make his 93rd appearance against Albania, eclipsing former goalkeeper Neville Southall’s 92-cap mark.
“I never thought I’d get here. It means an awful lot,’ Gunter said. “It’s fantastic when you achieve something as an individual, but when you do it with team-mates it’s an honour to do it with them.
“They’ve been there in difficult moments and I feel very honoured to be here.”
Captain Ashley Williams has apologised for his ‘mugs’ remark about Cardiff supporters before the Nations League game against Denmark.
Former Swansea defender Williams was caught on camera mocking Bluebirds’ fans when looking at a picture in the players’ tunnel at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday.
But Williams said he made the comment when engaged in ‘banter’ with Wales’ Cardiff physiotherapist Sean Connelly.
“It’s obviously disappointing, but it was not meant how it came out,’ Williams said at a Tirana press conference before Tuesday’s friendly.
“There was a bit of banter between me and Sean who has been Cardiff physio for ages. It was obviously picked up but I didn’t mean to cause any offence.
“We have that banter in the squad all the time and it was just picked up this time. Apologies if it caused offence to anyone.”
Some Cardiff fans have turned their anger on Williams on social media, with some even suggesting that the Stoke centre-back should not play for Wales again.
But the 83-times capped Williams, who played over 350 games for Cardiff’s great rivals Swansea between 2008 and 2016, said he had nothing against the capital club.
“I’ve got nothing against Cardiff fans,’ he said. “We have a good relationship, especially with Wales, and as players we love the Welsh fans and what they do for us.
“We’ve had that joke many times going into that stadium and it doesn’t get picked up. It was a little unfortunate that it was on camera.”