Bale motivated to show his fitness – Mourinho

NEW Spurs loan signing Gareth Bale could return quicker than expected from injury because his “motivation is high”, says manager Jose Mourinho.

Wales hero Bale, who rejoined Tottenham last week from Real Madrid, has a knee problem sustained on Wales duty.

Tottenham said they expect Bale “will be match fit after October’s international break”.

“He is so happy to be with a club of his heart. He is so happy to play for us,” said Mourinho.

“When a player has this motivation, many, many times you can shorten the period of recovering and shorten the period of getting fit and ready to play.

“We want to help him, so when he’s available to train with the team, we’re more than happy to have him and help him back to a level that made him one of the best players in the world.”

Meanwhile Dimitar Berbatov says the return of Bale will give former club one of the most exciting attacking frontlines in the Premier League.

The Welshman remains a hugely popular figure among Spurs fans, many of whom will fondly remember his electrifying performances in a Tottenham shirt.

Indeed, it’s not too much of a stretch to say that Bale often won games single-handedly for Spurs, and Berbatov, himself a former favourite at White Hart Lane, believes the former Southampton star can have a similar impact this time around.

Speaking to Betfair, the Bulgarian said: “Whether it’s a loan move or they buy him outright, once he’s back playing that’s all that matters. Quality never disappears.

“At 31, he still has the ability to play a crucial role at Spurs.

“Good players know how to update their game as they age, even Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have changed how they play. Bale will have great players around him at Spurs who will help bring out the best in him.”

“This is a step back in the right direction for an amazing player.

“It’s hard to say that this alone will make Spurs title challengers, but it is a sign to the world that they can do serious business. The players in the squad will be encouraged, and so will potential signings.”

Berbatov, who netted 27 goals in 70 games for Spurs, knows a thing or two about what it takes to score goals in the Premier League, and believes Bale’s arrival will give Tottenham one of the most exciting forward lines in English football.

“Bale, Kane, Son, Dele Alli – managers would kill for this frontline,” he added.

“How Mourinho sets the team out is a different question, and that will not be easy to answer, but they are all proven goalscorers and star players, so it’s a good problem to have.”

“On paper, they now have the strongest front-line in the league, along with Liverpool. That’ll take some stopping.”