Rafael van der Vaart has been ruled out of Tottenham Hotspur's match at Blackpool on Tuesday due to the recurrence of a calf problem that has caused him to miss several games this season, some of them this month.

Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager, said: "Rafa did his calf again yesterday in training so he's struggling. [He] missed a couple of games, played in Milan [in the 1-0 win in the Champions League last-16 first leg], got through 70 minutes and then yesterday morning didn't feel good. It's a blow, he's a fantastic player. We need him but we can't get that run out of him."

Redknapp believes Van der Vaart's inability to prepare properly last summer is costing him. "He missed the pre-season, after the World Cup, and I think that's a problem with niggly injuries. We have a break [after Blackpool], Wolves away next [on 6 March] then AC Milan at home. I am hoping Rafa will be back for Wolves. He should be OK – it's not a tear."

Gareth Bale has not recovered from his back problem in time to feature at Blackpool, but Redknapp said the Welshman would soon be back in action. "Slowly, he's improving and hopefully he's on his way back. Not tomorrow but he shouldn't be too long," he said.

David Beckham, meanwhile, finishes his spell training with Spurs today before returning to the LA Galaxy. Redknapp said: "We enjoyed having him here. You couldn't meet a nicer fellow, absolutely a top-class person. A great guy, [he's got] time for everybody, makes people feel at ease and as a role model for any young footballer … [he] signs autographs when people wait outside.

"He treated us to pie and mash – I had three pies. He had pie and mash delivered from Waltham Abbey – some of the foreign lads weren't too sure what to make of it."