WALES manager Chris Coleman has warned Scotland any attempts to rough up Gareth Bale during Friday's World Cup qualifier are doomed to fail.

Scotland were made to suffer at the hands of the Tottenham winger when the sides met in Cardiff in October, where a late Bale double gave Wales a 2-1 win and sounded the death knell of Craig Levein's reign.

Bale is currently in the form of his life, having scored 11 goals in his last 10 games for club and country, and he will once again be key to Welsh hopes at Hampden Park.

Sides have looked to physically target the 23-year-old in an effort to throw him off his stride, and he has a feud with Charlie Adam after twice being injured in challenges by the Scotland midfielder.

But Coleman believes such tactics will not reduce the effectiveness of his star man.

He said: "When Gareth plays for Tottenham or Wales there is going to be an element of that because kicking him is one way of trying to stop him and slow him down.

"But the more he gets kicked and thrown about, the more determined he is to stick the ball in the net.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is like that, as is Lionel Messi. The way he looks at it is, he stops the opposition by beating them, winning the game or scoring a goal.

"He's got that mentality about him. He's incredibly strong with pace and power. The Premier League is the most physical league as well. It's frantic and he's got used to that in the last two or three years.

"He's also got used to being targeted and he's come through that. He doesn't let it faze him. He's getting stronger and stronger mentally and physically and when you combine that with his natural talent anyway, then that is why he can be so destructive in any game.’’ Wales have finally found some momentum under Coleman, with their victory over Austria last time out meaning they have secured wins in two of their last three games.

Coleman believes the turning point came after the 6-1 hammering at the hands of Serbia in September; a moment when he realised despite his desire to stick closely to the framework left by the late Gary Speed, he needed to be his own man.

"I didn't enjoy the first six months at all,’’ he said.

"I got stuck in a position where I wasn't doing what I wanted to do. I wasn't affecting the situation.

"That's because I said I wouldn't change things, but I had to change some things. I wanted to and I did.

"From my perspective, it's been better because I'm doing more and more. I still haven't got it exactly how I want it and it will take me longer.

"But win, lose or draw, at least I can look in the mirror and say, 'I'm doing it my way'.

"That's given me more job satisfaction.’’ Coleman hopes a strong conclusion to the campaign will also be enough to secure an extension to his contract.

He said: "I've been in the job just over a year and I think I have 18 months left on my contract up until the finals (Brazil 2014).

"Of course, it would be interesting to see what happens. Hand on heart, I haven't thought about it.

"What will be, will be, but wins will help. I will sit down with the necessary people further down the line.

"But let's get these next results and keep edging things forward by making sure everything is positive.

"Let's get the points we want and get two wins. I don't say this lightly, but if we are going to do anything in this group we have to get six points against Scotland and Croatia.’’