Injury-plagued Gareth Bale Under Mounting Pressure at Real Madrid

Gareth Bale has been blighted by a succession of injuries since his record-breaking £91m move to Real Madrid from Tottenham last summer – having missed 52% of the minutes for Los Blancos this season.

The Wales international has missed Real's last three games after injuring his calf against Granada on January, and although he was expected to return to action for Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final with Atletico Madrid, he finally was omitted from the squad.

Bale has suffered five injuries in the first part of the season, missing 12 games and playing just 1,434 minutes of 2,970 that he could have played.

Despite his injuries, the Welshman has managed to scored 10 goals and grabbed nine assists in 22 games in all competitions, but some Spanish pundits have started to question whether he is really worth £91m.

A number have even suggested that youngster Jese, who has excelled during Bale's absences, should secure a place in the starting line-up ahead of the former Spurs star.

Manager Carlo Ancelloti is not concerned about the doubts around Bale and has insisted several times that the former Tottenham winger will be in his XI as soon as he is fit.

Indeed, after their latest victory over Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey, the Italian boss claimed that Bale is already fit and he was simply rested against Atletico to ensure he is in peak condition to replace Cristiano Ronaldo in the next La Liga game against Villarreal.

Ronaldo will sit out three league games after being sent off against Athletic Bilbao last weekend.

"There is no relapse, [Bale] is fine and I just preferred to rest him for Saturday seeing as Cristiano cannot play. Gareth being fresh will be good. He'll probably play," Ancelotti claimed.