´Touch and go´ with Bale, says Redknapp

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has described Gareth Bale’s chances of playing against Milan on Wednesday as ‘touch and go’.

Redknapp’s side will take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie against the Serie A giants at White Hart Lane.

But Spurs could be missing potentially their most influential midfielder, with Bale – who tore Milan’s city rivals Inter apart in the competition’s group stages in November – only rated a 50-50 chance of playing by his manager.

Bale came off the bench against Wolves in the English Premier League on Sunday, making a 20-minute cameo as he shrugged off concerns about a back injury.

But a lack of fitness could cost him a spot on Wednesday.

“His back’s fine but he was stiff in the legs,” Redknapp told reporters on Tuesday.

“It’s touch and go. We’d love to start with him but if he’s not quite right I wouldn’t want to take a chance.”

“When Gareth came on (against Wolves) and started to run with the ball, it was exciting. We’ve missed that for the last five or six weeks.”

“That was his first real exertion for six weeks. He started straight away to run with the ball and when he does that he scares people to death. He carries the game at the opposition and that makes a massive difference.”

But if Redknapp is to lose his Welsh wizard for the clash, he will be bolstered by the likely return of midfield playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart, who has been racing against the clock to recover from a calf problem.

“Van der Vaart has a good chance for Wednesday. I hope he’ll be fit,” Redknapp said.

Tottenham could call on Younes Kaboul to make his first appearance since December after he trained on Tuesday, but fellow defender Jonathan Woodgate took no part in the session.