Harry: Bale will start on the bench

HARRY REDKNAPP plans to hand Gareth Bale a place on Tottenham’s bench for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match against Wolves.

Bale was a major doubt for the game having missed the last seven weeks with a back injury, but he came through a light training session yesterday and will train with his team-mates today in the hope that he will be fit for Sunday, and the club’s Champions League clash with AC Milan three days later.

“I’m hopeful he will be fit for Milan. He did a bit with the fitness coaches this morning and he will come out and train with us tomorrow,” Redknapp told talkSPORT.

“I’m really looking to give him half an hour at Wolverhampton on Sunday. I will put him on the bench and if I can get him into the game for half an hour and give him one gallop before the big race and maybe get him out on Wednesday.

“He is not capable of playing 90 minutes on Sunday, I don’t think, but if we can get a run into him we might be able to get him ready for Wednesday then.”

With the battle for Champions League places hotting up, Redknapp thinks it’s now a two-horse race between his side and Manchester City.

Spurs and Chelsea have been vying for the final Champions League spot in recent weeks, with the champions leapfrogging their north London rivals into fourth place on Tuesday.

City once looked destined to fight for the title but their recent poor form has left them two points ahead of Chelsea and three ahead of Redknapp’s team.

Redknapp is convinced Carlo Ancelotti’s side are certain of Champions League qualification and thinks Tottenham and City are set to fight it out for fourth place.

“I don’t see Chelsea not being in the top four,” Redknapp said. “They are a very strong outfit. I still think Tottenham can be in the top four, and I think it’s between ourselves and Man City now.”