Jose Mourinho reveals subbing Gareth Bale in UEFA league for West Ham clash

Gareth Bale pushed his claims for just a third Premier League start of the season by inspiring Tottenham to a Europa League win against Wolfsberger AC.

Bale scored one and set up another in Spurs’ convincing win in Budapest and Jose Mourinho confirmed he withdrew the Welshman to ensure he was fit and in contention for Sunday’s crucial trip to West Ham.

Bale has struggled for game time since returning to Spurs on loan from Real Madrid and relations between the pair appeared strained when Mourinho took exception to a social media post from the 31-year-old about his fitness last week.

Mourinho said: ‘One of the reasons why he left the pitch by minute 64 was to try to have him available for the next match.

‘By taking him off at that minute we managed to save him a few miles in his legs. I know the match is Sunday at 12 o’clock but I believe he has a chance to play the match.

‘For him, it was important to play and not to play the 90 minutes.’

Spurs ran out 4-1 winner in Budapest – the tie moved to Hungary due to Covid-19 restrictions – without Harry Kane who was left behind.

Kane missed two games recently after suffering injuries to both ankles and Mourinho said: ‘I believe so [he will be fit for West Ham] but, the experienced guy that had injuries in the past.

‘He knows his body better than anyone. He knows I want him to play every minute of every game so it’s never a question of a choice.

‘I wanted to come here with the best team and the players that could give us more opportunity to win the game and have a good result but he made the decision based on his feelings.

'His feelings were to play this game could be a risk with the accumulation of minutes after the injury that he had and myself and the medical department we agreed with him in giving him this opportunity to take care of his condition but I believe that Sunday he is going to be ok and ready.’