Ireland could well face a Wales side shorn of star man Gareth Bale when the 2018 World Cup qualifiers resume in March 2017.

Reports from Spain are increasingly suggested that his current ankle injury is worse than first feared.

The 27-year-old suffered a "traumatic dislocation of the peroneal tendons" in his right ankle against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League earlier this month and has undergone surgery.

It was due to keep him out for four months which meant there was an outside chance of making the qualifier against Ireland on March 24th.

But Spanish paper AS says the Real Madrid attacker will be out of action until April which would be a huge blow for Wales.

The former Tottenham player was influential in steering Wales to the semi-finals of the European Championships in France over the summer, only to be eliminated at the hands of Portugal and Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo.