Bale blow to Tottenham’s Champions League hopes

TOTTENHAM’S flickering hopes of Champions League qualification took a blow yesterday with the confirmation that Gareth Bale will miss the rest of the season after suffering a ruptured ankle ligament during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Blackpool.

Bale came off in the second-half of the draw at White Hart Lane after a robust challenge from Charlie Adam, which meant the Welshman had to leave the ground on crutches.

Bale’s pace and penetration will be hugely missed by the Londoners, who need to win all three of their remaining games against Manchester City (tonight) , Liverpool and Birmingham to have any chance of bringing Champions League football to White Hart Lane for a second successive season.