Bale suspended for Spurs

Gareth Bale’s latest controversial booking for diving has earned him a suspension for Tottenham’s New Year’s Day clash with Reading.

Bale picked up his third yellow card of the season for simulation in Saturday’s win at Sunderland – his fifth domestic caution overall – and will sit out tomorrow’s Premier League game.

The trip to the Stadium of Light came too soon for Clint Dempsey (groin) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) but the fit-again Scott Parker made another substitute appearance and Tom Huddlestone was on the bench.

Provisional squad: Friedel, Lloris, Walker, Naughton, Assou-Ekotto, Gallas, Caulker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Lennon, Sigurdsson, Livermore, Sandro, Huddlestone, Dembele, Parker, Dempsey, Adebayor, Defoe.