Gareth Bale deserves start as Tottenham travel to Wolves

Jose Mourinho has brought Gareth Bale back into the mix at Tottenham in a calculated, careful way, but Sunday presents a perfect opportunity to start the Welshman. 

Nowhere near ready to play, Bale arrived back at Tottenham slightly injured and far from his physical best. It was clearly evident Bale needed time to recover and find match fitness before being further exposed to the world’s most rigorous, physically demanding league. Mourinho drip fed him to Spurs’ faithful, giving Bale a short bite at the cherry every so often, mostly during the latter stages of some Premier League games.

You might recall his first cameo, when he came off the bench to partake in Tottenham’s complete unravelling against WestHam. Those 30 or so minutes, when Spurs conceded three in a 12-minute span, wouldn’t have filled Bale, to little fault of his own, much confidence.

And while scoring against Stoke yesterday won’t go down as Bale’s most memorable moment in his decorated career, it was a solid sign indicating he deserves a Premier League start.

Continuously leaving Bale on the bench is an acceptable approach when the club is winning week in and week out. But two devastating losses in a row, regardless of the opponent, is reason enough to unshackle Bale.

Steven Bergwijn has done a marvellous job for Mourinho. He always tracks back, buying into the gaffer’s system. But Bergwijn’s offensive output — in part due to the role Mourinho has the Dutchman playing — has fallen short of expectations.

Surely Bale, after over two months back in north London, is fully fit and deserving of a chance to show his true class. He only needs a moment to display his otherworldly capabilities. We all know he’s not the Bale of old, but somebody has to take the pressure off of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, who are relied upon too often to supply Tottenham’s goals.

If nothing else, Bale will demand attention from Wolves, leaving either Kane or Son unmarked. Alternatively Bale might be the one who finds some space, not a bad tertiary option.

Some will say starting Bale will leave Spurs too open at the back. But any side chasing the Premier League title must show ambition, purpose and a formidable intent to attack. Bale, even if Spurs set up in a predictable counter-attacking style, benefits that strategy.

Let the likes Moussa Sissoko and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg anchor the midfield and protect the back four. Bale can’t perpetually start on the bench if Spurs are to bridge the gap between them and the league leaders.

I’m not saying Mourinho should throw caution to the wind, but after two disappointing losses it’s hight time for the Lilywhites to attack with vigour and dominate the match in every facet. The more Mourinho plays Bale, Kane and Son together from the start, the better chance they have of finding chemistry.

Once that happens it’s only a matter of time before Tottenham back atop the Premier League table.