GARETH Bale could miss Thursday night’s friendly against Spain at the Principality Stadium but Wales boss Ryan Giggs hopes to have his star man back for next week’s Nations League trip to Dublin to face the Republic of Ireland.

Giggs will make a late call on Bale’s fitness before kick-off against the Spaniards in Cardiff but Wales are confident that the Real Madrid forward will be fit to face the Irish on Tuesday.

Bale was forced off with a groin problem for Madrid at the weekend and he missed training with Wales yesterday but did take part today.

Joe Allen is delighted to have his good friend in camp, even if he may not feature tomorrow.

“He always can't wait to meet up with us and it’s great to have your talisman here,” said Allen.

“Hopefully he's going to be all right and it goes without saying how important he is to us.”

Bale would love to take on Madrid teammates Sergio Ramos, Dani Ceballos and Marco Asensio but Tuesday’s match is the priority for Wales.

“We’re not taking our eye off the important second game, but we do all want to play against Spain,” said Allen.

“And we don't want to go in to it with a friendly attitude, if you like.

“We want to approach it as if it were a competitive game. That will be important going into that second game.”

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Allen, who is now playing in the Championship with Stoke City alongside Wales captain Ashley Williams, is relishing the chance to test himself against the likes of Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alcantara of Bayern Munich.

“As a player you always hope you to get the chance to test yourself against these teams,” said the former Liverpool and Swansea City midfielder.

“It’s a great occasion and a great challenge, which will test ourselves to our limits. But it’s one that everyone is looking forward to.

“I played against some of the Real Madrid boys [for Liverpool] and they are players who are right at the top of their game in world football.”

Allen is also looking forward to representing Wales at the Principality Stadium having only previously played there for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.

He was an unused substitute the last time Wales played there in a Euro 2012 qualifier against England in March 2011.

“A lot has happened for Welsh football in that time but will finally get the chance to play for Wales there,” said the 28-year-old, who watched Wales in the stadium as a kid.

“I was fortunate that my school went to all the games. The Italy game [in 2002] stands out.

“They were occasions that were incredible for a kid and inspired me to be one of the players out there in the future.

“It's a great stadium and one that Wales is really proud of.”

Allen believes that, after the success of Euro 2016 and the excitement surrounding the start of the Giggs era, that Wales are ready to play there again.

“I'm sure that's been behind the decision to play this game there,” he said.

“We've had great games and great atmospheres at the Cardiff City Stadium in recent years but we're looking forward to playing there [the Principality] again.

“We've come a long way since the days when the atmosphere and the performances were questioned.”