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Bale 'touch and go' to face Milan

Gareth Bale looked in good form during training at Spurs Lodge on Tuesday © PA Photos

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has described key midfielder Gareth Bale as "touch and go" for the club's Champions League fixture against AC Milan on Wednesday.

Bale trained with the club on Tuesday morning, along with Rafael van der Vaart, who is expected to feature against Milan despite missing three weeks due to a calf injury sustained in the 1-0 win in the first leg in Italy.

While Bale did appear in the 3-3 draw with Wolves on Sunday, it was his first appearance in six weeks following a back injury and Redknapp is unsure whether the Wales international will be fit to play a starting role against Milan.

"His back's fine but he was stiff in the legs," Redknapp said. "It's touch and go. We'd love to start with him but if he's not quite right I wouldn't want to take a chance. Van der Vaart has a good chance for Wednesday, I hope he'll be fit."

Redknapp was impressed by Bale's brief cameo display against Wolves at the weekend though.

"When Gareth came on and started to run with the ball, it was exciting," Redknapp said. "We've missed that for the last five or six weeks.

"That was his first real exertion for six weeks. He started straight away to run with the ball and when he does that, he scares people to death. He carries the game at the opposition and that makes a massive difference."

Bale, who was superb in both fixtures against Inter Milan in the group stage, missed the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie as a Peter Crouch goal put Spurs in control.

Defender Younes Kaboul also trained with the side and could be in line for a first appearance since December, but Jonathan Woodgate did not take part.

More to follow

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