Source: Daily_Mail
Gareth Bale was fine when he left Spurs to join Wales, claims Harry Redknapp
EXCLUSIVEHarry Redknapp hit back at claimsTottenham sent Gareth Bale to Wales carrying the hamstring injury whichhas forced him out of Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against England.[LNB]Spurs manager Redknapp insists Balewas fully fit when he left the club, although Wales boss Gary Speed isadamant the 21-year-old reported lame, complaining of tight hamstrings.[LNB]Speed and his outspoken assistantRaymond Verheijen claimed scans proved Bale pulled a hamstring in his right leg last week, provoking an angry response from White Hart Lane. [LNB]'I wouldn't have let him go if he had an injury,' Redknapp told Sportsmail.'Gareth played for 90 minutes against West Ham on Saturday and theytell me the figures from that game show he covered more ground thanhe's ever done before. [LNB] We'll miss you against England: Wales legend Ryan Giggs (left) consoles future legend Gareth Bale[LNB] [LNB]'There was no sign of a hamstring injury. He's not come in after the game and said his hamstrings were tight. [LNB]'When he left here on Saturday, off he went and he certainly wasn't injured. [LNB]'He hasn't had a hamstring injury. He had a back, then he had a tight thigh and we'vebeen very careful with him. [LNB]'Now he's got a hamstring. He must've done it with Wales. I'm not blaming anyone. It's no-one's fault.[LNB]'The first I heard of it was at 10 o'clock on Wednesday night when our physio calledme. I feared the worst but he's seen our physio and it's only tightness. [LNB]'There's no tear but if he plays and it pings, he's had it.'[LNB] Prize asset: Harry Redknapp (left) is rightfully protective of Gareth Bale[LNB] [LNB]Redknapp hopes Bale will be fit toplay for Spurs at Wigan, a week on Saturday, and in the first leg ofthe Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in Spain threedays later.[LNB]Speed said the winger was keen toplay against England but had been sent back to his club to avoidrisking a more serious injury. [LNB]The Wales boss said: 'Gareth wantedto wait and see if he could give it a go but the decision was made assoon as we received the reports back from the scan.[LNB]'The scan was to put his mind atrest but then it showed something. There is a little nick in there, alittle fluid. You can tell by the scans he was injured last week. [LNB] Quick Speed: Wales boss Gary was forced onto the defensive over Bale[LNB]'He reported on Sunday and said hefelt stiffness with Saturday being his first game in a while. We lefthim out of training on Sunday and Monday. He did the warm-up on Tuesday and felt a bit of tightness, so we took him off. He didn't train Wednesday and that's when we took him for a scan. [LNB]'It was a no-brainer. I might havebeen able to play because I'm so slow but if you are as explosive asGareth, it could have been a real problem. We don't want to be puttinghim back for the rest of the season. Spurs have got some massive gamescoming up and the player's welfare is of paramount importance.' [LNB]Dutch coach Verheijen is a fitnessand conditioning expert who recently criticised the training methods ofManchester United and Manchester City. [LNB]He wrote on his Twitter page: 'The incompetent amateurs struck again.' [LNB]It seemed like a slur on Tottenhambut he quickly back-tracked, claiming the 'incompetent amateurs' werenews organisations reporting Bale had been injured in training withWales. [LNB]Speed, just three months into thejob, is anxious not to ruin the relationship with his best player'sclub and confirmed he had asked Verheijen to curb his remarks.[LNB]He said: 'He has been an independentconsultant for a while but that is different to being part of anassociation. That is one of the things we have cleared up today.' [LNB] Bale blow for Wales as Spurs star is ruled out of Euro 2012 clash with EnglandBale's injury is a hammer blow to Speed but lets Fabio draw up new plan of attackCaptain Rambo! Ramsey to skipper Wales on his return against England [LNB] [LNB] ] Explore more:People: Gary Speed, Gareth Bale, Harry Redknapp Places: Spain, United Kingdom, Wales
