Tottenham defender Gareth Bale is a doubt for the Premier League opener against Sunderland.
Left-back struggling for opener
Tottenham defender Gareth Bale is a doubt for the Premier League opener against Sunderland on Saturday.
Martin Jol is already without Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Lee Young-pyo, and Bale could also be missing after struggling for fitness in pre-season.
The £10million signing from Southampton has been hampered by thigh and knee injuries and is not yet back in full training with Spurs.
Bale's injury could force Jol to field either Ricardo Rocha or Anthony Gardner at left-back at The Stadium of Light.
"Hopefully I will be ready to get back to training soon but I'm not sure if I will be ready for Sunderland," Bale said.
Spurs are definitely missing captain Ledley King and winger Aaron Lennon as both continue their recoveries from knee surgery.
Jol must also decide which two of Dimitar Berbatov, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent and Robbie Keane start up front against The Black Cats.
