GARETH Bale believes Wales have the talent to mount a serious challenge to qualify for Euro 2016.

Bale did not speak to the Welsh media this week but did give an interview to FAW TV – the Football Association of Wales’ Youtube channel.

Manager Chris Coleman’s new two-year deal to lead Wales into the next qualifying campaign was officially announced today, ending months of speculation about his future as national manager.

And the Real Madrid star backed Coleman – up to a point. He lavished more praise on previous manager John Toshack and didn’t mention Coleman’s name.

“I think John Toshack did great for Welsh football bringing us all through,” said Bale. “I think most of us he gave us our debuts so he was obviously very good.

“With the manager (Coleman) signing a two-year contract we’ve had a year to get used to things and hopefully now we have a bit of stability and continuity in training and everyone knows what we are doing.”

Hardly a ringing endorsement, but Bale is certain that Wales have the playing talent to succeed – if they get the backing of the fans and media.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction now,” said the world’s most expensive player.

“We’ve got a good group of young players and we’re starting to see some results.

“I think we’ve got a bright future and hopefully we can just get a lot of support behind us – all the fans and the media believing in us – and achieve something we haven’t for a long time.

“We really want to kick on and get back to the days where we were filling up the Millennium Stadium with 75,000 people.

“We want to qualify now and I think we’ve got the team to do that if the whole nation gets behind us.”

And the 24-year-old reiterated his pride in representing his country.

"It’s always an honour to play for my country and it’s something I’m looking forward to do every time I pull on the shirt,” he said.

“There’s no bigger honour and I’m always willing to give 110 per cent.”