Ryan Giggs has backed Gareth Bale to bounce back from his recent struggles at Real Madrid.
The Welsh international has endured a difficult period in the Spanish capital, being jeered by sections of the Bernabeu support, with his agent openly criticising the way the forward has been treated at the club.
The Spanish giants are in the midst of a disappointing campaign, sitting 12 points off the pace in La Liga and having been eliminated from both the Copa del Rey and Champions League.
Bale never seemed to be a favourite of Zinedine Zidane, who this week returned to the club as manager after only leaving at the end of last season, with the Frenchman becoming the clubs third managerial appointment of the season.
However, ahead of the upcoming international break, Wales manager Giggs has backed his star player to come through his troubling spell.
“I expect Gareth to turn up and do what he always does, give everyone a lift,” Giggs told reporters at a press conference where he announced a 31 man squad for Wales’ games against Trinidad and Tobago and Slovakia.
“When he plays for Wales he gives 100 per cent and more often than not he performs well.
“I don’t expect anything different because he’s always brilliant around the camp.”
Speaking about the criticism from the Real Madrid faithful, Giggs said that it was just part and parcel of playing for a top club.
“It was the same when I played at United and you lost,” Giggs added.
“Great players over the years have put up with that at Real. There’s newspapers dedicated every day to reporting on that club. You have to take the rough with the smooth.”