Gareth Bale is “looking very well” as Wales prepare for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Belgium, says Wayne Hennessey.
The Real Madrid winger suffered a hamstring injury in September and missed the international break last month.
He missed the chance to make his 100th appearance for the Dragons during the last break, but can achieve that honour on Saturday against Belarus.
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“He’s looking very well,” Hennessey said. “He’s in good shape, he’s smiling and laughing – and when you get Gaz like that he’s fantastic to be around.”
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti had hoped to include Bale against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, but the 32-year-old Wales captain was not considered fit enough to make the matchday squad.
But Hennessey believes that will not stop Bale from becoming only the second Welshman, after Chris Gunter, to reach the 100-cap landmark in Cardiff this weekend.
Hennessey said: “He looks after himself very well. He’s always in the gym doing stuff and keeping up on his fitness.
“He’s very particular what he eats. He looks after his body and is in good shape.
“What he can do on a football field is absolutely amazing. Everyone knows his talent but he’s a special guy and a special person. He’s down to earth and fame will never change him.
“He’s a fantastic leader, a leader we’ve enjoyed, and who can hopefully keep leading us.
“People don’t see that side of him, when he’s in the dressing room. He’s vocal, he has got a fantastic football brain and he’s played at the highest level.”
Elsewhere, Marcus Rashford believes Manchester United have the “desire and ambition” to get out of what he has described as a “difficult patch”.
He said: “The Man United team is the Man United team and we all play for the badge and the club, something for me I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid.
“And for the players that we sign, they see Manchester United as the great club it is and they want to give everything they can for the badge.
“And those things remain the same whether you’re in good spells or bad spells.
“I know at the moment we’re in a difficult patch but the desire and ambition never changes.”