Gareth Bale has mental strength, says Wales boss Chris Coleman

Wales manager Chris Coleman believes that Gareth Bale's mental toughness, as much as his talent, will ensure the forward succeeds at Real Madrid.

Bale has joined up with the Wales squad for World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Serbia after his £85.3m world record transfer from Tottenham.

The 24-year-old is not match-fit but Coleman hopes he can play some part in Skopje on Friday or Cardiff on Tuesday.

"I can't really speak highly enough of his attitude," Coleman said.

"But it's that attitude that's got him where he is because talent is not enough.

"I've seen a lot of gifted players fall by the wayside. You have to have that mentality and he's got it.

"He's a very grounded boy and that will stand him in good stead going forward."

Bale has not played for over a month, but will travel to Macedonia for Friday's World Cup qualifier.

He trained with the Wales squad in Cardiff on Tuesday after making it clear at his Real Madrid unveiling he was keen to join his national side in order to regain fitness.

"The place where he's playing now, it doesn't get any bigger than that - or better - but he'll deal with it," said Coleman. "I'm quite sure of that.

"He has got a smile on his face now as he knows where he is going to be playing his football. He knows his future because before he did not know whether he was staying at Spurs or whether he was going.

"The media frenzy was following him and now he has a more settled look on his face because he knows where he is going to be playing."

The forward did not feature for Spurs this season before his move to Spain and missed Wales' friendly with the Republic of Ireland last month with a foot injury.

Wales will be without Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen against Macedonia and Serbia because of injury.

Full-backs Neal Eardley of Birmingham and Swansea's Jazz Richards have also withdrawn from the squad and been replaced by Newcastle's uncapped Paul Dummett and Cardiff youngster Declan John.

Wales squad

Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton Wanderers - on loan at Yeovil), Boaz Myhill (West Bromwich Albion), Owain Fon Williams (Tranmere Rovers), Ben Davies (Swansea City), Paul Dummett (Newcastle United), Danny Gabbidon (Crystal Palace), Chris Gunter (Reading), Declan John (Cardiff City), Adam Matthews (Celtic), Sam Ricketts (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ashley Williams (Swansea City), Andy King (Leicester City), Joe Ledley (Celtic), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), David Vaughan (Sunderland), Jack Collison (West Ham United), Andrew Crofts (Brighton & Hove Albion), Sam Vokes (Burnley), Craig Bellamy (Cardiff City), Simon Church (Charlton Athletic), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid).