Glenn Hoddle is tipping Gareth Bale to have a "big say" in Tottenham Hotspur's crunch clash with Chelsea this weekend.
Bale has been eased back into his second spell at Spurs after returning to the club on loan from Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.
Having recovered from an injury, the Wales international has made six appearances for Jose Mourinho's men in all competitions so far.
The 31-year-old has been restricted to just one Premier League start to date, though, and did not feature at all in the 2-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday.
That win sent Tottenham to the top of the table - where they lead reigning champions Liverpool on goal difference.
Frank Lampard's Chelsea are a couple of points behind in third place.
Spurs and Chelsea go head-to-head in a much-anticipated showdown at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (4.30pm).
Hoddle, who played for both clubs, reckons Mourinho could be saving Bale for the occasion.
“I’ve got a sneaky feeling that Gareth Bale might have a big say in that game," said the 63-year-old on his podcast, The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show.
"I think Mourinho might be holding him up his sleeve.
“That’s the sort of game where you could just see him.
"He played 90 minutes for Wales, and you could see him turning it on in a game like that.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Mourinho hasn’t got him earmarked for Chelsea.”
As well as starting the 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion, Bale has made two substitute appearances in the league.
On one of these, he scored the winning goal - in a 2-1 home victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Bale started both of Wales' recent Nations League wins against Republic of Ireland and Finland.
