Tottenham Hotspur's Andre Villas-Boas: 'Gareth Bale nearing return'

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed that Gareth Bale could return to the squad for next week's friendly against Monaco.

The Welsh winger was forced to miss Saturday's 6-0 win over South China in the Asia Trophy due to a muscle strain.

"He is going to be fit to join the team for training on Wednesday," Sky Sports News quotes Villas-Boas as saying. "There is a big possibility he could be fit for Monaco.

"He hasn't done any training with the team yet but in all of the pre-season friendlies we had before he was involved. We are confident he will be able to join us."

Meanwhile, Villas-Boas again refused to answer questions over Bale's future at the club amid continued speculation linking the player with Real Madrid.