Bale to have scan on ankle injury

The swelling on Gareth Bale's right ankle has gone down enough for the Tottenham star to have a scan on the injury today.

Bale was carried off on a stretcher in the dying seconds of last night’s 2-2 draw against Basel after David Degen stood on the 23-year-old’s standing ankle.

Sometimes injured players have to wait over 24 hours before swelling subsides so the injury can be scanned accurately, but it is understood that is not the case with Bale, who will have an assessment on the ankle today.

A Tottenham report on the 22-goal forward's injury last night described the Welshman as being in "severe pain" because of the tackle, which occurred in stoppage time of the Europa League quarter-final first leg.

Bale’s right ankle was positioned almost at a right angle to his leg because of the challenge, but Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas was confident his star man would make a quick recovery last night.

He said: “Gareth will definitely play again this season. We will know better (on Friday) but I’m pretty confident.

“From the medical department’s first analysis, everything is positive. It shouldn’t be as bad as it looks because Gareth has torn that ligament before and there’s nothing to tear now.”

Aaron Lennon and William Gallas, who also had to come off last night with knee and calf problems respectively, will also have scans today.

The injury worries could not come at a worse time for Tottenham, who are battling Arsenal, Everton, and Chelsea for the final two Champions League spots.

Villas-Boas is already without Younes Kaboul (knee), Jermain Defoe (pelvis), and Sandro (knee) for Sunday’s crucial Premier League game against the Toffees at White Hart Lane.