Goal.com UK can reveal that Bale has been training with the first team since last Thursday and has been building up his fitness with conditioning exercises since Monday of last week.
Manager Harry Redknapp left his prize asset out of the squad that drew 0-0 at Wigan Athletic on Saturday with the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in mind.
The 21-year-old has been dogged by a hamstring injury that forced him to sit out Wales’ Euro 2012 qualifier against England nine days ago and there has been doubt about whether he would recover in time.
It is also believed that William Gallas could be risked by Redknapp at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Spurs sources indicating that there is a “50/50” chance the Frenchman could feature.
Uncertainty over the fitness of the two key players has provided an intriguing subplot ahead of the first leg. Redknapp said on Saturday that Gallas was unlikely to play while Real’s manager, Jose Mourinho, has added to the mind games by suggesting that Cristiano Ronaldo could feature after all.
Redknapp is keen to give Bale and Gallas every opportunity to play a part as the captain, Michael Dawson, and Sebastien Bassong are the only two senior centre-backs fit.
Spurs will already have to make do without Steven Pienaar, who started on the left side of midfield in both legs of the last-16 clash against Milan but revealed late on Sunday night that he is out with a groin injury, while right-back Alan Hutton needs knee surgery and will miss the rest of the season.
Bale played 90 minutes against West Ham a fortnight ago, his first completed match since mid-January after a six-week absence with a back problem.
Redknapp said of Bale today: “He’s a great athlete. I watched him run on Friday morning and they said he can only work to 70 per cent. Well he was absolutely flying. He looked like Carl Lewis. He’s a real athlete, a fantastic sprinter, so hopefully he will be OK tomorrow and back to his best.”
Redknapp has said he will make a late decision on Gallas, whose significance is even greater in the absence of long-term injury victims Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate.
“William Gallas is struggling,” said Redknapp. “Unless there is a big improvement – on Friday he couldn’t even kick a ball – he has no chance. The scan showed nothing apart from bone bruising but he was in a lot of pain. I am hoping he is going to be fit, for sure, his experience is vital to us, so we will give him as long as we can.”
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Gareth Bale In Line To Start Against Real Madrid Clash