Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has claimed this is a "crucial moment" in Gareth Bale's season as the Welshman prepares to fill the void left by Harry Kane.
Kane sustained an ankle injury against Liverpool in midweek and will be unavailable for Spurs' clash with Brighton on Sunday evening.
In the absence of the talismanic striker, Mourinho has urged key players, like Bale, to "step up" with the England star expected to be sidelined for weeks.
"It is a crucial moment for him [Gareth Bale], he feels better and better," Mourinho said.
"When you lose a player of Harry's quality, other players have to step up and hopefully Bale can help us.
"The position that [Bale] likes to play is the position we put him in every minute we give him, which is the correct side of the attack."
The 31-year-old Welshman arrived back in north London with much fanfare ahead of his transfer, a season-long loan from Real Madrid, at the beginning of the season.
But while he has shown glimpses of what he can do in a Spurs shirt, it is widely acknowledged that he should have made far more of an impact than he has so far.
Bale has been utilised mainly in cup competitions and the Europa League, having played only 54 minutes in the Premier League since November 8.
And former Liverpool and Tottenham player Danny Murphy is as perplexed as anyone as to why Bale is yet to hit his straps.
“Bale looks physically inept for some reason," the BBC pundit told Optus Sports via HITC.
"I don’t know, maybe there’s a fear factor because of the injuries he’s had, but at the moment he’s way off.
"He’s not close enough to be playing in the team regularly obviously.”
While he has struggled to really regain his best form, it is likely a consistent run of games and a clean bill of health will only help to do just that.
Mourinho is expected to give Bale a more pronounced role in Kane's absence, that's for sure, and fans this side of the Severn Bridge, as well as those in north London, will be desperate to see him get back to somewhere near his best in the coming weeks.
