JOSE: BALE IS CONFIDENT AND HAPPY

JOSE MOURINHO claims Gareth Bale is in his best shape since returning from Real Madrid and is free from any injury concerns. Bale has looked hungrier and sharper in Tottenham’s last three games, scoring twice in the Europa League against Wolfsberger and making a positive impact from the bench in the 2-1 defeat at West Ham. ‘The mental is always a consequence of the physical,’ said Mourinho, whose side have been drawn against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League last 16. ‘If a player feels great, if he is playing 100 per cent and if the feelings are all good, there are no psychological problems or fears. ‘When you have little worries and especially when you have a recent history of injuries, it’s normal to have some fears — and these fears have a consequence — but lately he has been fine. ‘He looks happier than ever, he looks confident. He has confidence back in training, the way he hits shots. His goal on Wednesday was a confident shot. A player with fear or negative feelings would never have hit that type of shot. To strike the ball that way, it means a lot. It means freedom: for this you need to be in a good condition and he is in the best condition since he arrived.’ Mourinho, whose side host Burnley tomorrow, was also more positive than usual about Dele Alli, who has spent most of this season on the fringes and has suffered minor injuries. ‘I am happy with him,’ said Mourinho. ‘He is training well, playing parts of matches. We need him.’