Gareth Bale was left out completely from Tottenham’s FA Cup squad that took on Everton on Wednesday.
While the reason for his exclusion is not known, it is fair to say that his return to English football is going from bad to worse.
This comes less than 24 hours after Bale posted a message on Instagram. “Good session today,” he said on Instagram after the team’s final training session prior to the fixture.
While one would usually assume that is positive news, Bale failed to make the substitute bench against Everton.
It is fair to say that Bale has had a rocky return to life in London. Spurs fans have also been left disappointed with the lack of playing time he has been offered under manager Jose Mourinho.
Wales boss Chris Coleman had urged fans not to write off Bale just yet.
“He’s been out for a long time and he’s finding it hard to get back in and get his rhythm,” Coleman said.
“We all know what a world-class player he is. He can win a game, he can score a goal from nothing, he’s got a last pass.
“But when I’m watching him now it looks like he’s always on his first game back after an injury. Obviously, we expected him to be in the flow of it by now but he clearly isn’t.
“He’s only 31 so I wouldn’t write him off. I don’t know what’s happened at Tottenham but knowing Gareth, he’s a very serious boy about his football and he loves playing football.
“He will very much want to be in the heart of it and if he’s not quite there yet, he’s either not ready physically or maybe mentally there’s a lack of confidence,” he said.