Bale mystery injury may keep him out of Wales friendly with Ireland

Gareth Bale will report for training with Wales this week - but is understood to be reluctant to 

risk his fitness by playing for his country while his future remains in the balance.

Talks between Tottenham and Real Madrid over his career are due to resume later this week.

His transfer is still expected to go through before the window closes and could even be concluded by next weekend.

'Gareth has been instructed to report for international duty,' said AVB last night. 

'He has been training alone and working with our medical department, and we will make sure they pass all the relevant information across to the Wales team.

'Will he play for Wales? That's not up to me.' 

Yet Wales may tread a diplomatic path and pull Bale out of the friendly to avoid causing their star any embarrassment. But no one foresees him turning out for Spurs in the near future. 

All roads lead to Spain - even if he must negotiate Wales first. 

Spurs fans did not chant Bale's name or parade banners pleading with him to stay as Tottenham drew 1-1 with Espanyol on Saturday.

It was as though the Welshman had never been king of White Hart Lane.

In any event, the club may have a new hero - and he wears No 9.

It took £26 million club record signing Roberto Soldado just 28 minutes and 39 seconds to open his account for Tottenham. 

He may not have Bale's extraordinary physique, pace and athleticism, but the Spaniard is a threat and he has the quiet confidence to become a Premier League match-winner.

Soldado and the other new signings, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli, received a rapturous reception before the match. 

Paulinho had an early downward header into goal disallowed for offside. 

But it was Soldado who broke the deadlock from the penalty spot.

Danny Rose was upended by Javi Lopez just inside the box, and Soldado netted crisply into the corner.

'It is always important to score a goal and I hope this was the first of many,' said Soldado. 

Chadli was quiet on the left of midfield, a reminder that Bale is irreplaceable. 

Espanyol danger man David Lopez equalised with a thumping header just before half-time, exposing deficiencies at the centre of the Tottenham defence. 

Skipper Michael Dawson said: 'The new signings are going to improve us. It was great for Roberto to get his goal. We're looking forward to the start of the season.'