Wales have been dealt a major blow ahead of their final two World Cup Group D qualifying games with the news that Gareth Bale will miss both games.

Chris Coleman's side go into their final two matches sitting in second place in the table, a point ahead of Ireland who they face on the final day in Cardiff.

Bale will now miss that game, along with Friday's trip to Georgia.

The Real Madrid attacker missed his club's weekend 2-0 victory over Espanyol with a calf muscle strain and manager Zinedine Zidane played down the significance of that injury in the build-up to the game.

However, despite Zidane's claims that he believed Bale would be fit for Wales' qualification double-header, that injury has forced him from the Wales squad.

"The Football Association of Wales can confirm that Gareth Bale will miss the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Republic of Ireland," said a statement from the Football Association of Wales.

"Bale - who missed Real Madrid's game against Espanyol on Sunday - arrived with the rest of the Wales squad on Sunday and attended Monday's annual FAW Awards dinner at the team headquarters in Cardiff.

"But following dialogue with Real Madrid, Bale was sent for a scan and results confirmed that he wouldn't be fit to feature."

Barnsley striker Tom Bradshaw has been called into the squad as a replacement.

Wales are currently in second place in Group D, four points behind leaders Serbia and one point above Ireland.

Two wins are likely to guarantee them at least a place in next month's play-offs.

Bale's absence could open the door for Liverpool teenager Ben Woodburn to make his first Wales start.

The 17-year-old made a dramatic introduction last month when he scored the winner within five minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute against Austria.

Three days later Woodburn made another huge impact from the bench when he set up the first goal in Wales' 2-0 win in Moldova.

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