Soccer: Gareth Bale is unlikely to play any part in the rest of Tottenham's season, according to manager Harry Redknapp. Bale had to be carried off in the second half Tottenham's 1-1 draw against Blackpool on Saturday thanks to a challenge by Charlie Adam.
The Welshman will go for a scan on his left leg at hospital today amid fears he suffered serious ankle ligament damage.
Redknapp admits Bale is out of Tuesday night's game at Manchester City and is unlikely to play in the club's other two remaining games against Liverpool and Birmingham.
The Spurs boss said: "It looks like he has done his ankle ligaments. I don't see him playing again this season. It's badly swollen, his ankle. We will just have to wait and see how bad the damage is," Redknapp added.
The injury appears to have brought a premature end to a fascinating season that has seen the youngster rise to stardom after a series of scintillating displays.
Two rampaging performances against Inter Milan in the group stages of the Champions League alerted Europe's biggest clubs to his potential and England manager Fabio Capello has labelled him the best player in his position in the world.
His displays also saw him earn the PFA Player of the Year award despite missing several games in the second part of the season due to hamstring and back problems.
Redknapp may have a big squad at his disposal, but they have suffered without their key winger, slipping out of the race for fourth place.
Spurs have to win all three of their remaining matches to stand any chance of qualifying for the Champions League, but Redknapp is confident that his team will be able to cope without Bale.
"It's a blow but we have been without Gareth quite a bit recently," Redknapp said. "He has had injuries and he hasn't really come back from those injuries to the form (he was in before). It's been difficult for him. The injuries have knocked him back.
"He has had a fantastic season. The first three-quarters of the season, he was unplayable. He was making goals and scoring goals and he won player of the year. Over the last couple of months the injury has taken its toll on him. During that time he hasn't quite been the same boy and now he has another injury that rules him out again."
Redknapp allayed fears that Bale would miss Spurs' pre-season tour to South Africa in July.
"He should be fit for pre-season," Redknapp said. "It's not that serious. It shouldn't be a problem. We don't think he has ruptured them (his ankle ligaments). We don't know until we have the results of the scan. Hopefully he hasn't."
