Bale injury worry for Spurs

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said Gareth Bale is a doubt for Sunday’s trip to Stoke City.

The 22-year-old Wales international, who scored the opener in Spurs’ 3-0 victory over Bolton last weekend, picked up a knock in the game at the Reebok Stadium.

Jermain Defoe is another who might not feature on Sunday after picking up an injury in training, while Ledley King could miss out with a continuing knee problem.

“We’ve one or two knocks,” Redknapp told reporters.

“Jermain has had a bit of a hamstring (problem) this week, Ledley took a bang on the knee in training last week and Gareth has had a problem this week. We’ll wait and see how they are.”

Midfielder Niko Kranjcar has returned to full training after picking up a thigh injury in October when playing for Croatia.

Redknapp confirmed Michael Dawson is ‘coming back slowly but surely’ from an Achilles injury, but midfielder Tom Huddlestone remains a long-term absentee at White Hart Lane.

Meanwhile, Redknapp has accused the Football Association of double standards over their campaign to get Wayne Rooney’s Euro 2012 ban reduced.

Rooney’s ban for next summer’s tournament was cut from three matches to two after he was sent off for kicking out at Montenegro’s Miodrag Dzudovic during England’s final qualifier in October.

Redknapp thinks the FA’s stance is hypocritical as he is sure that had the Manchester United player lashed out in a similar manner in a domestic game, he would be suspended for at least three games. Redknapp, the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss, said: “In all honesty it was a three-match ban for violent conduct.”

“You can look at it and say it wasn’t that violent, but it doesn’t matter.”

“If you cuff someone, you get a three-match ban. Those are the rules. If you appealed it (domestically), it would be a frivolous appeal and you would probably get four games if you went to the FA.”

Redknapp now expects the FA to be besieged with appeals for domestic red cards.

“For them to get it from three to two, it opens up a can of worms,” he said.

“There will be clubs appealing against bans and they will want to know why they aren’t getting it cut from three to two for similar situations.”

Redknapp is the second Premier League manager to question the FA’s appeal against Rooney’s ban after Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish did so on Thursday.

Dalglish said: “I find it a bit strange. The FA are supposed to be setting an example for things yet they appeal against Wayne Rooney’s three-match ban. I don’t think that’s a good example to set.”