Gareth Bale admits playing in pain

Tottenham Hotspur talisman Gareth Bale has admitted that he played through the pain barrier to help his side beat Manchester City last weekend.

Bale sealed a dramatic 3-1 win for Spurs late on with a cool finish to keep his side firmly in the race for a top-four place.

The Welsh winger conceded that he felt discomfort throughout the match but came through the test unscathed in his first appearance since damaging ankle ligaments three weeks ago.

He told The Sun: "It was touch and go whether I was going to play, but thankfully I got through it OK.

"It was a bit sore in the first half but I got more confident in the second half. It hurts but it's just about managing it and carrying on."

The 23-year-old has 18 Premier League goals for Spurs so far this season.