Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Gareth Bale will not be available for Tottenham Hotspur's upcoming clash with Manchester United.
Mourinho takes on his former club on Sunday afternoon in a huge Premier League contest at Old Trafford. It will be the third time Mourinho has faced his United successor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since taking charge of Spurs, with both sides enduring mixed results in the league so far this season.
And after completing a sensational loan swoop to bring Bale back to Tottenham, Mourinho has now revealed the Welshman is still struggling to regain match fitness.
"Bale cannot play tomorrow or at the weekend," the Portuguese said in a press conference yesterday before his side's Europa League qualifying clash with Maccabi Haifa.
"He's working very hard and very professionally, but not yet for tomorrow [Thursday] or this weekend.
"I believe the two weeks of international will be important for his fitness and recovery to be back for the weekend after. We'll see."
Mourinho also confirmed Son Heung-Min is a major doubt, having come off injured at half time during Spurs' 1-1 draw with Newcastle last weekend.
"He's a doubt for Sunday, a big doubt," added Mourinho. "I don't want to say he doesn't play and then he does because my position is in doubt."
United could come up against Sergio Reguilon on Sunday. The left-back arrived from Real Madrid alongside Bale and made his Tottenham debut in Tuesday's Carabao Cup victory, via penalties, over Chelsea.
