Gareth Bale will find out on Monday whether he is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines amid fears the Tottenham star suffered serious ankle ligament damage thanks to Charlie Adam's challenge in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Blackpool.
Bale left White Hart Lane 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.
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.
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."
Source: PA
