Bale eyeing twin weekend targets
Bale returned from a two-and-a-half week injury absence on Sunday to help inspire Spurs to a dramatic 3-1 win over Manchester City.
Although boss Andre Villas-Boas changed the game with his substitutions, Bale’s contribution was also key to the win, which came after Samir Nasri had put City ahead.
Bale curled a peach of a pass across the box to Clint Dempsey, who started off the comeback, and the Welshman scored himself eight minutes from time with a clever chip over Joe Hart to seal the win after Jermain Defoe had scored Spurs’ second.
That strike took Bale’s tally for the season to 23 — a highly impressive achievement which means he is the odds-on favourite to win the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year gong when it is announced on Sunday night.
“It’s massive. It’s great for your peers to vote for you,” said Bale, who is also up for the Young Player of the Year award. “Hopefully I do win. To be nominated is fantastic and fingers crossed (I do win).”
Spurs will move a point clear of third-placed Arsenal, who play Manchester United on Sunday, if they beat Wigan the day before, and Bale wants to see his team-mates show the same kind of fighting spirit for the remainder of the season.
“We knew it was a massive game and the lads showed what we have in the team — a lot of character,” Bale added.
“It was a fantastic turnaround. As soon as we scored the first everyone had that belief and confidence, the fans raised the noise and gave us that belief to go forward and thankfully we were able to score two more.
“We need to keep that character, team spirit, and togetherness in to the last five games and push for our objectives this season.”
The initial diagnosis that Bale would miss only two matches when Basle’s David Degen stood on his ankle on April 4, twisting it a right angle to his right leg, seemed optimistic.
Bale started sluggishly against City, but he discovered his explosive pace in the second half, dismissing fears that the tackle had caused long-term damage.
“My ankle was all right,” Bale said.
“It was touch and go whether I was going to play but I got through it OK. It’s just about managing it and carrying on.”
