Gareth Bale set to be ruled out of AC Milan Champions League decider after suffering further back pain in training run

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    3 Mar 2011 20:53:00

    EPL : Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham (Getty Images)

    EPL : Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham (Getty Images)

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    EXCLUSIVE
    By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

    Gareth Bale has been all but ruled out of Tottenham‘s Champions League decider against AC Milan after suffering pain in his back when he ran for the first time since he was forced off against Newcastle United in January, Goal.com UK can reveal.

    The 21-year-old will miss Sunday’s clash against Wolves and Harry Redknapp has conceded the midfielder has virtually no chance of playing any part in the second leg of the last-16 tie at White Hart Lane next Wednesday.

    Bale was initally ruled out for two weeks by Spurs’ medical team after coming off nine minutes into their 1-1 draw at Newcastle on 22 January. But the injury, which has troubled the Welsh international since the turn of the year, is proving more problematic than inititally feared.

    Spurs have just returned from a week-long training camp in Dubai, where Bale suffered discomfort after returning to non-contact training for the first time in over a month.

    “Gareth did some running and, although he did not break down, he experienced some serious discomfort,” a source told Goal.com UK.

    “He is in no state at all to play at the moment and doesn’t feel ready. He is out of Sunday’s game and Spurs are not at all optimistic that he will be fit for Milan. It will require a big improvement for him to make it.”

    Bale’s likely absence would be a huge blow to Redknapp’s game-plan against the Serie A leaders, even though Tottenham hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.

    Bale has emerged as one of the most coveted left-sided players in world football following a campaign in which he twice destroyed reigning champions Inter Milan in the group stages and has contributed 11 goals and a series of outstanding performances in all competitions.

    However, there is some good news for Spurs. Rafael van der Vaart, who played an hour in Milan either side of missing two Premier League games, is fully fit and will return at Molineux on Sunday.

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    Gareth Bale set to be ruled out of AC Milan Champions League decider after suffering further back pain in training run