Gareth Bale set to discover extent of ligament damage

Last updated : 09 May 2011 By Daily Mail

Bale left White Hart Lane on Saturday on crutches with a protective boot around his left leg after the Blackpool captain went in hard on the winger's ankle in the second half.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp criticised Adam for the challenge but he is hopeful the damage will not be so bad that Bale will miss the club's last two matches against Liverpool and Birmingham.

Cruncher: Blackpool skipper Charlie Adam goes in hard on Spurs winger Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane

The Welshman's ankle was badly swollen after the tackle and he is almost certainly out of Tuesday's crunch match at Manchester City, where Redknapp's team must win to stay in the hunt for fourth.

'It was a bad tackle. A few people said it was a nasty challenge,' Redknapp said. 'He will have a scan (today) at the hospital.

'It could be ligament damage but it might not be so bad. It could only be twisted.'

Bale's absence would be a big blow to the Londoners and it would also bring a premature end to a fascinating season that has seen the youngster rise to stardom after a series of scintillating displays saw him earn the PFA Player of the Year award.

Agony: Bale knew immediately after the tackle from Adam that he would play no further part in the game

It would be the third time he has been sidelined through injury this year, with back and hamstring problems troubling him earlier in the season.

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.'

Adam came close to an 11th-hour move to White Hart Lane, and despite a dip in form, Spurs and Liverpool have been linked with a summer transfer for the midfielder.

Unhappy ending: Spurs star Bale was carried from the pitch on a stretcher and is facing a spell on the sidelines

Tangerines boss Ian Holloway denied the 25-year-old would definitely be leaving, saying: 'I am not resigned to losing him.'

Redknapp also ruled out lodging another bid for the Scot despite seeing him score the opening goal in Saturday's draw from the penalty spot before Jermain Defoe equalised in the 89th minute.

'Charlie Adam is a good player but the closest I came to signing him was at 10.10pm on deadline day,' Redknapp said.

'I didn't lose any sleep over it. I would have liked him to come here because is a very good player but I have a lot of good footballers here. Sandro is improving, (Luka) Modric is fantastic, Tom Huddlestone will be back, (Wilson) Palacios is getting fit hopefully.'

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?Explore more:People: Ian Holloway, Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe, Harry Redknapp, Charlie Adam, Tom Huddlestone Places: Birmingham, Liverpool

Source: Daily Mail

Source: Daily Mail