Bale set to miss rest of season

Bale receives treatment after Adam’s tackle

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp expects winger Gareth Bale to miss the club’s remaining three Premier League games this season.

The Wales international was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in the 1-1 draw against Blackpool following a tackle by Charlie Adam.

Bale, 21, is having a scan on Monday and Redknapp said: “I don’t think we’ll see Gareth again this season.

“He might have some ligament damage so we’ll miss him.”

Midfielder Adam, who was linked with a move to Spurs in the January transfer window, escaped without a booking for the challenge and went on to miss a penalty as well as score a spot-kick in the game at White Hart Lane.

“It was a bad challenge by Charlie but it’s out of character for him,” added Redknapp, whose side play Manchester City on Tuesday before games against Liverpool and Birmingham.

“He caught him but having met the boy a few times and spoken to him, I don’t think he’s that type of lad who would go and purposely try to do somebody like that.

“It was an enthusiastic tackle but it was a bad tackle and he could have easily seen a red card. He came into the dressing room afterwards and apologised.”

Wales manager Gary Speed will be hoping Bale, who was recently crowned the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year, can recover in time to play for his country at the Four Associations’ Tournament later this month.

“He’s a fit lad so hopefully he will recover quickly,” Speed told BBC Wales.

“It was a bad tackle. It could have easily been a break but hopefully it will just be ankle ligaments.

“Gareth’s very strong so hopefully it won’t be too bad.”