Having re-joined former side Tottenham on loan from Real Madrid, one-time most expensive player in the world Gareth Bale has had an underwhelming return to North London.
Just one goal in seven appearances in all competitions, Bale has found a starting sport in Spurs’ starting XI hard to come by, as Jose Mourinho’s side sit pretty at the top of the Premier League after 10 games.
Tottenham ’s remarkable start to the season has been completed largely without Bale’s influence, featuring just three times in the league.
And according to former Tottenham teammate Darren Bent, the best of Bale’s playing days might be behind him.
With the 31-year-old yet to complete a full 90 minutes of action since his return, Bent told talkSport he fears Jose Mourinho’s patience may be wearing thin over the Welshman’s fitness.
"It's a gradual process but at the same time it's a year loan. For me, the question you've got to ask is how long is [Jose] Mourinho prepared to give him before he goes 'this is not working’.
"All the talk has been about Son [Heung-min] and [Harry] Kane being superb, but when they get Bale back, when Bale gets back to himself, Bale this and Bale that. But right now, he's nowhere near the Bale we can remember.”
Mourinho is yet to express publicly any frustration over the winger’s fitness, with the Spurs boss actually claiming Bale is embarking on a “physical evolution” since his brief return from Madrid.
The Portuguese coach said: “The only problem with Gareth is to get into the dynamic and the confidence of playing consecutive matches without any bad feeling or negative feeling, without any remembrance of the recent past when the condition was not the best and the fears were there.
“But now he has the chance of a physical evolution. He doesn’t need a tactical or a technical evolution. He just needs to get his confidence back about playing three matches in a week. It’s more about that [than anything else].”
Bale is likely to feature in Spurs upcoming Europa League clash away to LASK Linz, but question marks remain over whether he will be in line to start against fierce rivals Arsenal in Sunday’s North London Derby clash.
A scourge of Arsenal on numerous occasions, Bale has notched five Premier League goals against Spurs’ most fierce rivals.
Mourinho's men will be keen to witness their superstar seal his homecoming against Arsenal of all opponents, though given the sides contrasting fortunes – they may not even need him.
