Gareth Bale, starting at left back instead of his preferred left midfield for Tottenham Hotspur due to an injury to regular left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto, has been substituted off in the 11th minute for Spurs after he picked up an injury himself. Sebastien Bassong, naturally a left-footed central defender, has come on in his place and will play left back.
Newcastle Vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Gareth Bale Injured, Substituted Off
This game marks Steven Pienaar’s debut in a Tottenham shirt, having just joined from Everton. He’s starting at left midfield and if Bale’s injury is remotely serious, he arrived just in time for Harry Redknapp’s side. Bale has started all of Tottenham’s matches this season, and will be a big loss if he is out long term. Based on how quickly he was removed, the way he was walking, and the way the trainer was examining him, Bale appeared to have sustained a serious hamstring injury.
With Bale coming out, much more will be expected of Pienaar on the left hand side, and he will probably have to stay wide rather than cutting in, which he would have done a fair amount of if Bale was playing left back.
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