European Qualifiers: Wayne Hennessey says Gareth Bale can lead Wales to victory against Belgium

Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is backing Gareth Bale to get the better of Thibaut Courtois once again in Sunday’s European Qualifier against Belgium.

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Courtois has taken the Premier League by storm this season since returning to Chelsea from a loan spell at Atletico Madrid, but he only has to cast his mind back to last May when Bale scored the decisive second goal in Real Madrid’s Champions League final win over their city rivals.

"Courtois is a top goalkeeper and will have done his homework on Bale because every player watches a lot of football," said Hennessey.

"They will have done their homework and seen situations in games where he's done well, like with the goal against Andorra.

"But Bale is just an unbelievable talent and we've all seen how he can punish people and get goals from all angles.

"He's got all the ability in the world. He practices all the time and that's why he's so good - and he got the header against Courtois in the Champions League final, which is interesting."

Bale is just an unbelievable talent and we've all seen how he can punish people and get goals from all angles.

Favourites

Wales head to Brussels on top of Group B having picked up seven points from their opening three games, while World Cup quarter-finalists Belgium have four points from two matches.

Belgium are massive favourites to win the group but Hennessey feels Wales are in great shape with Bale fit and firing, and influential midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen back after missing last month's qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus through injury.

"We've got a full-strength team and I can't see why we can't go there and get a result," said the Crystal Palace player.

"We're looking very threatening and if we're nice and solid at the back we should do well.

"There's a lot more at stake when we played them last year so you'll see a more competitive game this time.

"They are the favourites in our group and they've got some good talent there, but so have we and we can do some damage to teams as well.

"We're not far behind at all and teams will look at us in the group and think, 'Wales, I wouldn't like to go there'."

Watch Belgium v Wales live on Sky Sports 5 on Sunday from 4.30pm