Gareth Bale is set to return to training at Real Madrid today.

The Independent says Bale hopes to return to training this week as he steps up his rehab from an ankle injury.

The Wales forward has been out since November after suffering a "traumatic dislocation of the peroneal tendons" in his ankle during Real Madrid's 2-1 Champions League victory at Sporting Lisbon.

Bale was operated on in London at the end of November and now, after almost two months of solo work, he is preparing to return to the European champions' Valdebebas training ground to step up his recovery.

Real Madrid hope to have him working with a ball by February, but are still setting a cautious timetable for his return.