Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has insisted that he is "happy" with Gareth Bale's recent form and is hoping to slowly get the forward back to full fitness.
Bale is said to have grown frustrated at the Bernabeu after being named on the subs' bench for games against Real Sociedad, Paris Saint-Germain and Leganes this month.
The 28-year-old was brought on for the final 15 minutes of Wednesday night's 3-1 win over Leganes, with Zidane putting the lack of starts in recent weeks down to a deliberate attempt to lighten the injury-plagued Welshman's workload.
"I'm happy with him, we have to go little by little with him," he told reporters at his post-match press conference. "What we want is for him to hit his best and we're getting there.
"We'll look at the matches that are coming up next and at how we're going to manage them. We are good and in good form and I am counting on all my players."
Bale has played a direct part in 10 goals in 17 La Liga and Champions League appearances this season.
Daniel Lewis
