Gareth Bale was introduced as a half time substitute in Tottenham’s 2-0 loss to Leicester yesterday.
The Welshman was unable to make an impact on the game as the Foxes went ahead of their hosts in the table.
In the Times, Tony Cascarino was critical of Bale’s contribution yesterday and called on him to deliver far more.
Everyone knows Bale didn’t play much towards the end at Real Madrid and it seems like those fitness issues are still affecting him.
“If Tottenham Hotspur are to continue to challenge for this title, they need Gareth Bale to start performing,” wrote Cascarino.
“José Mourinho threw on Bale at half-time but his impact was peripheral at best. Almost every pass was sideways or backwards. There was little desire to make runs in behind. No bursts of pace that we know he is capable of.
“All too often he was just strolling around. It is staggering to think he is two years younger than Jamie Vardy, who looked far more threatening yesterday. It is time for Bale to show much more.”
There is an understanding there that Bale needs time to get fit, but we’re almost at Christmas now and he still doesn’t look close to his best.
For a player on loan until the end of the season, Spurs fans are going to want to see something from him soon.
Mourinho hasn’t been starting him in the league, and didn’t turn to him yesterday when Steven Bergwijn was left out, which indicates he’s still not that close to his physical peak.
With the games coming thick and fast over Christmas, he should get opportunities to play.
But he will have to do a lot more than he did yesterday, as Cascarino points out.
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