Bale is unlikely to be risked for the Premier League match at White Hart Lane on Sunday and could miss the FA Cup replay against Stevenage and the trip to Everton

By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Gareth Bale is a major doubt for Tottenham’s Premier League clash with Manchester United on Sunday, after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring tear on international duty with Wales, Goal.com can reveal.

Bale pulled his hamstring in training on Tuesday morning and took no part in the Gary Speed memorial match against Costa Rica on Wednesday night.

Wales played down the seriousness of the injury but Goal.com understands that it has been diagnosed by medics as a Grade 1, the least serious of the three grades of hamstring tears.

Bale was at Spurs’ training ground on Thursday to be assessed by the medical staff and is believed to be confident of featuring against United at White Hart Lane, but he is, in fact, unlikely to play any part.

Grade 1 tears usually require 10 to 21 days recovery time, which means that Bale could also miss Tottenham’s FA Cup replay against Stevenage next Wednesday and the league trip to Everton the following Sunday.

His injury is a serious blow for manager Harry Redknapp and will infuriate the club, given that he picked up the injury in training while preparing for a friendly international.

The 2011 PFA Player of the Year is in the running to retain his crown this year after adding greater variety to his game over the past 12 months, scoring 14 goals for club and country, including 10 in the Premier League.

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