Jose Mourinho has declared Gareth Bale fit for Tottenham’s trip to Fulham on Thursday evening, but didn’t confirm whether the Welshman will start the game at Craven Cottage.
Bale has enjoyed an unlikely revival in recent weeks, and impressed when scoring twice and assisting once in Spurs’ victory over Burnley on Sunday.
That performance came after Bale netted in both legs of Tottenham’s Europa League tie against Wolfsberger before coming off the bench to claim an assist in an excellent second-half showing at West Ham the Sunday before last.
But Bale has only started three Premier League games all season, which means his fitness clearly needs to be monitored.
Mourinho was asked whether Bale will be involved against Scott Parker’s team. He said: “I believe so. Start the game, being on the bench, I don’t know. We have to decide.
“He’s such an experienced guy so of course his opinion is very important. But good reaction, good recovering session and he will be involved. I repeat: bench or starting but he’ll be there.” (Quotes via the Evening Standard).
Following his recent form, it would be a major boost to see Bale in the starting line-up at Craven Cottage, but with Crystal Palace in mind on Sunday and then Dinamo Zagreb next Thursday, the 31-year-old can’t start every game, especially after previous injury problems.