Gareth Bale is set for an eight-week spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury and will not be available to coach Carlo Ancelotti again until November.

The Welshman has been out of action for the past week after he suffered a muscle tear in his right hamstring during a training session at the Santiago Bernabéu last Saturday, 11 September ahead of Los Blancos clash with Celta Vigo on Sunday - a game he subsequently missed. The 32-year-old also sat out the Champions League clash against Inter Milan midweek and is now set to miss up to a dozen more.

Cadena Cope journalist Miguel Ángel Díaz broke the news of Bale’s estimated layoff time on Twitter, stating that the Welsh international would be sidelined for between eight to ten weeks.

AS has been able to consult Real Madrid sources, who confirmed that the timeframe for Bale’s recovery is about eight weeks. Although, as it is a major muscle tear, the margins regarding his layoff period can be wide.