Bale second Spurs debut headlines London derby
Gareth Bale
What you need to know:
Pep Guardiola once claimed that Tottenham were “the Harry Kane team”, but that jibe is redundant now Gareth Bale is back in north London. He returns seven years on with four Champions League medals, two LaLiga titles and is hungry for more silverware as he makes a second Spurs debut.
BY DARREN A. KYEYUNE
There ought to be no major comparisons between Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho and West Ham United manager David Moyes ahead of their London derby encounter later today.
But the Premier League is such an intriguing affair that the gulfs in qualities and weight of managers and teams have certainly narrowed on the green surface. Portuguese Mourinho has won the Premier League thrice with Chelsea but that even counts less when he meets a fellow former Manchester United boss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium touch line. Tottenham were flying before the international break with three wins from four matches in eight days across the Europa League, Carabao Cup and league.
In the latter, they closed with a 6-1 thumping of Manchester United at Old Trafford. And Mourinho boasts of the most potent duo at the moment, of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. They have scored a combined nine goals and shared seven assists. They are likely to form a three-man attack when Welshman Gareth Bale steps onto the field for his second debut with Spurs. Bale rejoined his former club on loan from Real Madrid and he looks to have recovered from a knee problem over the past fortnight.
Anticipated c ameo role
Prior to heading to the Spanish capital, Bale, 31, scored 42 goals in 146 outings with Spurs between 2007 and 2013.However, Mourinho has been coy about the attacker starting, with Erik Lamela or Lucas Moura set to start then Bale coming as a substitute.
On the flip side, the Hammers have looked impressive in the past two encounters, netting seven times and conceding none in wins over Wolves and Leicester.
And Moyes is back to the touchline following coronavirus treatment and so is Issa Diop is back in the squad.
However, Arthur Masuaku is the big doubt for Moyes.
At the King Power Stadium, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers hopes main man Jamie Vardy gains his scoring touch again when they host a flying Aston Villa. Aston Villa pummeled champions Liverpool 7-2 last term and Jack Grealish looks every part for Dean Smith’s charges.
