Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has insisted that Gareth Bale is feeling positive after putting last season's injury nightmare behind him.
The Wales international failed to find any sort of momentum in a memorable 2016-17 for Los Blancos, missing nearly half the campaign through injury.
Bale has had a solid pre-season campaign, however, and featured for a combined 155 minutes in Madrid's UEFA Super Cup triumph over Manchester United and the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana win over Barcelona at Camp Nou.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's league opener against Deportivo La Coruna, Zidane said: "[Bale is] good, training well and that's the most important thing.
"He had few chances last year with four months of injury, now he's well, he's enjoyed very good preparation and I hope it's an important year for him and for us."
Speculation linking Bale with a return to the Premier League with Man United refuses to go away, despite Jose Mourinho publicly ruling out a move earlier this month.