Tottenham Hotspur's Welsh winger Gareth Bale is set to miss out on a place in the Great Britain Olympic football team after suffering a back injury in training.
Bale, who turns 23 in July, is keen not to aggravate the problem further with the Olympic football tournament coming just before the start of the new Premier League season.
Spurs' opening Premier League game will be against Newcastle United on August 18 and, with that in mind, Bale is believed to have told GB Olympic team coach Stuart Pearce that he does not wish to be considered for selection.
Bale -- who this week signed a new four-year contract with Spurs -- had previously made little secret of his desire to represent GB at the Olympics, and last year risked the wrath of the Welsh FA by posing in a British Olympic team shirt without their permission.
Tottenham Hotspurs' Welsh player Gareth Bale controls the ball against Chelsea during the FA Cup semi-final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in London on April 15, 2012. Chelsea won the game 5-1. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE