• Premier League

Bale out for rest of campaign with ruptured ligament

ESPN staff
May 9, 2011
Tottenham do not expect Gareth Bale to play again this season © Getty Images
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Gareth Bale will not play any part in the rest of season after a scan revealed the player has ruptured an ankle ligament following a challenge from Blackpool's Charlie Adam at the weekend.

Bale had to be carried off in the second half of Tottenham's 1-1 draw against Blackpool on Saturday, and a scan on the Welshman's leg on Monday revealed the extent of the damage.

"An MR scan today (Monday) has revealed that Gareth Bale has suffered a ruptured ankle ligament," a club statement read.

"Following consultations with an ankle specialist, Gareth will remain in a protective boot for up to 12 days before beginning rehabilitation with the player expected to be fit for the start of pre-season."

Bale will therefore certainly miss Tuesday's game at Manchester City, a game Spurs must win to stay in the hunt for the fourth Champions League spot, as well as the club's other two remaining games against Liverpool and Birmingham City.

Earlier in the day, manager Harry Redknapp said: "It looks like he has done his ankle ligaments. I don't see him playing again this season. It's badly swollen, his ankle. We will just have to wait and see how bad the damage is.''

Redknapp criticised Adam for the challenge at White Hart Lane and said: "It was a bad tackle. A few people said it was a nasty challenge."

Adam defended the tackle, insisting he never meant to hurt Tottenham's star player. The Blackpool captain said: "I just saw the ball, I just tried to get it. It was never intentional, I never tried to hurt him because he's a wonderful player and at the end of the day I'd rather see these players on the pitch."

Spurs have to win all three of their remaining matches to stand any chance of qualifying for the Champions League, but Redknapp is confident that his team will be able to cope without Bale, who was recently crowned PFA Player of the Year.

"It's a blow but we have been without Gareth quite a bit recently,'' Redknapp said. "He has had injuries and he hasn't really come back from those injuries to the form (he was in before). It's been difficult for him. The injuries have knocked him back.

"He has had a fantastic season. The first three-quarters of the season, he was unplayable. He was making goals and scoring goals and he won player of the year.

"Over the last couple of months the injury has taken its toll on him. During that time he hasn't quite been the same boy and now he has another injury that rules him out again.''

Redknapp allayed fears that Bale would miss Spurs' pre-season tour to South Africa in July, despite underestimating the extent of the injury.

"He should be fit for pre-season,'' Redknapp said. "It's not that serious. It shouldn't be a problem. We don't think he has ruptured them (his ankle ligaments). We don't know until we have the results of the scan. Hopefully he hasn't.''

As well as Bale, Tottenham will be without several other key players for Tuesday's must-win clash against City.

Full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hamstring) and midfielder Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are out while there are doubts over striker Peter Crouch (back) and Croatian playmaker Luka Modric (hip).

Steven Pienaar could miss out with an ankle problem and Jonathan Woodgate (calf), Ledley King (groin), Wilson Palacios and Alan Hutton (both knee) are all unavailable. Jermaine Jenas is also struggling to make the trip to Eastlands after suffering a thigh injury against Blackpool.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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