• Europa League

Bale team-mates hopeful he'll be fit for next game

Gareth Bale's team-mates are anxiously awaiting Friday's scan on the Wales international's damaged ankle, but they retain hope that Tottenham's star man will make a swift recovery.

Bale was stretchered off at the end of Spurs' Europa League quarter-final first leg tie with Basel at White Hart Lane. The scores finished level at 2-2 ahead of the return match in Switzerland.

The man tipped to challenge for the Premier League's Player of the Season award appeared to twist awkwardly on his right ankle, and was in visible pain as he disappeared down the tunnel. Bale's injury compounded the earlier loss of Aaron Lennon, who departed in the first half.

Andre Villas-Boas' men are currently third in the league, four points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal in their hunt for Champions League football. With crucial games against Everton, Chelsea and Manchester City next up in their schedule, the potential loss of Bale could be a devastating blow.

However, Gylfi Sigurdsson - scorer of Spurs' equalising goal - retains hope Bale's injury will not be as bad as first feared. The midfielder admits both he and Lennon are crucial to the club's push for a successful end to the campaign.

"It's hard to say, but hopefully he (Bale) will recover quickly and be ready for the next game," Sigurdsson told Sky Sports News.

"He's very important to us. Those two players (Bale and Lennon) would be important to any team and hopefully they'll get back soon."

Mousa Dembele also offered a positive outlook on Bale, stating "we hope that he will be fit", while Villas-Boas is anticipating a boost when scan results come back later on Friday.

"He rolled on his ankle, at the moment there is a lot of pain, but hopefully [it's] not as bad as it could have been,'' the Tottenham manager told BBC Sport.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.