Joe Allen: 'Baffling to see Gareth Bale on fringes of Real Madrid first team'

Stoke City star Joe Allen has described Gareth Bale's recent lack of game time at Real Madrid as "baffling".

Bale ­became Wales's ­all-time ­record scorer thanks to a hat-trick in their 6-0 thrashing of China in Nanning.

At club level, however, the 28-year-old has only started five of Real's last 10 games, fuelling speculation over his future.

"It is baffling really," compatriot Allen told The Mirror. "He'll be disappointed. But I'm sure it is only a matter of time before he'll be back starting and playing regularly — doing for them what he ­always does for us.

"It was an incredible hat-trick and he is going to have plenty of time to ­extend that record now. He's really chuffed he's got it, and in some sense it is 'out of the way'. He is going to get a lot more goals. It will take something pretty special to ever beat his record.

"If you look at Gaz's age, 28, he is at the peak of his powers. We hope he keeps doing the business. He is an ambitious guy. You could see against China he is a cut above anyone else out on that pitch — we are really ­grateful he is a Welshman."

Bale has scored 29 goals in 69 Wales games, while his Real tally stands at 79 goals from 179 appearances.