Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, says that Gareth Bale has the potential to become the best left back in the entire Premier League.

Bale has managed to hold down a regular first team place in the Spurs side and has managed to create a significant impact. He is now part of the Spurs side and the manager does not see him being dropped for a long time.

Bale is also a regular international for the Wales senior side and is growing in experience and stature all the time. It could mark the start of a realising in potential that everyone has said he has for a long time.

Redknapp said: “Gareth is playing superbly, he’s been in great form. I didn’t want to shift him from the left-back position because he’s been outstanding there but we didn’t have many spare bodies at Fulham.”

“He can play wide left or left-back anyway, he can do both jobs and he was a real threat. He’s in great form and is full of confidence.”

“He’s got bigger and stronger and people forget he’s still only a young lad. He’s toughened up a lot, his attitude is stronger, he’s physically stronger, mentally stronger and he has terrific ability, pace, a great left foot – he’s got everything.”

“I think he will go on to be one of the best left-backs or left-sided players in the modern game.”

Spurs are still fighting on a number of fronts but the thing they will want more than any thing by the end of the season is to hang onto fourth place and break into the Champions League for the first time.

This will be difficult though because there are many teams who are currently trying to achieve this. Bale will play a big role in the run in if Spurs are going to get into fourth place and hold the fort.

What Bale does so well is defend from the first part of the game to the last. He then looks to try and get forward to provide another attacking outlet whenever he can. His form has started to mirror Chelsea’s Ashley Cole when he plays at his best.

Bale also has a deadly left foot, which Spurs have been using to deliver balls from free kicks and set plays. Bale would probably be the first to admit that he does not score enough goals but that will come with time and patience.

Since he made the move from Southampton, a former club of Redknapp, he has grown slowly. It is only recently that he has managed to burst into the side and make big contributions.

Whether or not he can hold this down and continue it over a longer period of time remains to be seen.

He has become a crowd favourite at White Hart Lane and there do not seem to be any signs of Bale’s form stopping just yet. Provided he stays injury free, the future is bright.

England manager, Fabio Capello, has praised former captain, John Terry, after England’s 3-1 victory over Egypt at Wembley.

Terry led by example for the entire match and came up with a performance, which showed everyone why he was named as captain in the first place. His performance was met by constant cheers from the home crowd.

It was unknown how Terry would play after the recent media attention, which has been attributed to him. Hopefully the example can inspire the team towards further victories as England prepare for the World Cup this summer.

Terry said: “I’m really happy, and thank you to the crowd because they supported the team and John Terry. This was one of the most important games for him after the history of what happened off the pitch. He played a fantastic game, like I know he plays always at this level. When I chose him as captain I knew the value of this player because he’s really important on the pitch.”

“Crouch is one of the most important players. I’ve selected him a lot, he’s played a lot of games for me and he’s in very good form. But you have to understand that, when I select the squad, I always say that all the players can play.”

“Today I wanted to understand what happens with Defoe and Rooney in the first half. I know what happens when Rooney plays with Crouch, with Carlton Cole or Emile Heskey. I know that. For that reason today it was better to start with Defoe in preparation for the World Cup. To know whether these two can play together.”

England took a long time to get going in the match last night before their play exploded in the second half. It is clear that Terry will need to be strong at the back of the team and this will have to run right through the side.

Terry and Rooney were both exceptional when it came to trying to lift the team during low points in the first 45 minutes. Two goals from Peter Crouch went onto ensure that the victory was a certainty.

The Spurs striker added: “Anyone who plays for England is going to feel under pressure, certainly in a World Cup year. You can only try to do your best and I did. It’s up to the manager. All you’ve got to do when given your chance is try and take it, and I’ve given the manager something to think about.”

However, there are clear signs of weakness in the team, regardless of the impressive nature of the score line. It was clear that Leighton Baines is not up to the job at left back, which will open the door for Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock to come in and be Ashley Cole’s number two.

All in all though it was a fairly solid night for English football. There is clear reason to be optimistic without getting carried away.

England and Manchester City defender, Wayne Bridge, has told Fabio Capello that he does not wish to be part of England’s World Cup plans this summer.

The left back does not want to be involved because of the recent scandal involving former England captain, John Terry. Many said that Terry’s former affair with Bridge’s girlfriend at the time would come back to haunt the team.

Capello had said that there was no reason why Bridge would not be in the World Cup squad as he is the second best left back in the country behind Ashley Cole. However, Bridge has taken this decision himself and it is likely to be one that many will frown at.

Bridge said in a statement: “I have thought long and hard about my position in the England football team in the light of the reporting and events over the last few weeks. It has always been an honour to play for England. However, after careful thought I believe my position in the squad is now untenable and potentially divisive. Sadly therefore I feel for the sake of the team and in order to avoid what will be inevitable distractions, I have decided not to put myself forward for selection. I have today informed the management of this decision. I wish the team all the very best in South Africa.”

Once again a football player’s actions have had huge consequences and a decent and honest player will miss out because of what Terry has done in the past.

Doubtless is the fact that Bridge will now be subjected to much criticism from all sections of the football community for taking this decision. It may be viewed as the Manchester City player turning his back on the team when he is simply making a decision based on what is right for him.

The news will also offer hope to a number of England fringe players who are good enough to snap up a squad place and will want to be Cole’s deputy by the time the team fly out to South Africa.

Among the front runners will be Blackburn’s, Stephen Warnock, and Everton’s, Leighton Baines. Whoever gets the nod is going to have a very tough task on their hands and whoever starts against Egypt next week is likely to be the favoured player by Capello.

Bridge has waved goodbye to his England career and will now be focused on winning a lot of silverware with Manchester City. City are still at the start of a very special journey and Bridge can only get better in the side.

Perhaps at some point down the line if Terry is injured or prematurely retires then Bridge can start thinking about playing for his country again.

For the time beign he should be cut some slack because it would have been a difficult decision from a troubled player in a compromised position. Bridge made the decision or his own reasons and we all need to respect that.

England manager, Fabio Capello, has stressed the importance that all of his players keep a low profile in the build up to the World Cup.

John Terry and Ashley Cole have been in the headlines lately for all of the wrong reasons and Capello wants his players to stay focused and intent on their sporting ambitions.

There is a worry that negative press in the build up to South Africa will attract unwanted attention for players who will need to be resting and free from stress. This would provide England’s opponents with something to use against the team and wind up the players during matches.

Capello said: “The players have to understand what I want if you want to stay with me. It will be very important because we need to create a group. The England shirt is very important. This will be one of the most important points we will speak about.”

“The World Cup is really important for me, for England and for the players. We have to stay together and be compact in every moment. I think this will be my most important job, to recreate this spirit. After four months we will meet the players next week and it will be a very important game for many reasons. One is also this (situation).”

“We will talk about a lot of things because four months is a long time. If you can meet the players every month it is different. We will have two days to stay together, but they are very strong days. I spoke with (Chelsea manager) Carlo Ancelotti and our doctors spoke with Chelsea’s doctors.”

“We hope he will be fit in two months, more or less, and I think he will be ready for the World Cup. Wayne Bridge? Why not? He is a left-back. Cole and Bridge are the best left-backs. He will be with us. No problems about the other things.”

One of the things that many pundits have said is missing from the current side is that England team spirit that has made teams of old so successful and respected.

England have never been the world beaters that we all want them to be but the team spirit has been something, which has helped them get to the later stages of many competitions and beat some of the best teams.

It does not matter if England are playing a rampant Spain side in the World Cup Final. If every single player on the team is fighting for each other and going out of their way to win then that is the important thing that everyone can take away from the competition.

England’s disgraced players owe big time and now is the time for them to deliver at their clubs for the rest of the season. Summer is fast approaching. Whether or not that little golden trophy is in the hands of Rio Ferdinand in July can be determined by how the players react right now.

Jose Mourinho, manager of Inter Milan, has responded to the number of jibes aimed at him by Chelsea boss, Carlo Ancelotti.

Chelsea and Inter meet this evening in a huge Champions League contest and the two managers have been locked in a war of words over the last couple of days in the build up to the match.

Mourinho has said that the only reason Chelsea are still a heavy weight of the football world is because of him while Ancelotti has focused his criticism on the inadequacies of the Inter squad and their Mourinho’s insistence on focusing on everyone but himself.

Mourinho said: “If Ancelotti says that, it’s because he knows, or because somebody told him. Or because he belongs to the clan. I just do my job. I’m here to play a game of football.”

“Ashley Cole at this moment has to take care of himself and take care of his recovery. I called him a couple of days ago because I care about him. I wished him a very, very quick recovery. Because I like him very, very much, my advice to him is to stay in England.”

“I watched Ashley Cole play until the moment he had his injury, and he played superbly. If he has problems, for sure they are not on the pitch. I think Ancelotti must give him advice, his family must give him advice and he must think for himself, but if he really wants my advice, I think he should stay in England.”

“The most beautiful thing in football for a coach is the passion and respect of his players, and the supporters of his own club. That happens with me all the time, at Porto, Chelsea and Inter. That makes me proud. What Didier keeps saying about myself makes me proud, but I know what will happen tomorrow. I know that tomorrow he will break his legs for Chelsea.”

Inter stand a very good chance of progressing into the next stage of the Champions League but it will be a lot more difficult for them. Chelsea are the strongest team in England at the moment and all of the pre-match stories will fire them up.

Mourinho is an expert in knowing how to push all of the buttons in the managers of teams his side are about to face. He did it for a long time in England and got away with it for a long time in England.

It is impossible to count the number of times he forced the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger to come out in the media with outrageous comments in the build up to a Premier League game.

Both sides are on top form and both sides will want to win more than any thing else. What it will come down to is who is up for the game more. Mourinho may just edge the tie on tactics but Ancelotti is no mug.

Ashley Cole’s three month spell on the sidelines with injury could end up bring a blessing in disguise for the English national team.

Cole fractured his ankle during Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Everton on Wednesday night and despite the doom and gloom of the news, it could give the full back a chance to rest up before the World Cup.

Predictions suggest that Cole will be fit again around a month before England play their first game in South Africa. Needless to say that the talk of burn out and fatigue will come up at some point in the near future.

If Cole’s rehab goes to plan then he will be back and fit at just the right time for England but not for Chelsea. If Cole trains hard when he gets back and does all of the small things correctly then there is a good chance he will be in the starting eleven on June 22 against the United States.

The only problem, even if Cole gets fit again, is the fact that the Chelsea defender would not have played in a high paced competitive match for three months and probably will not feature in many late games that Chelsea have this season.

England manager, Fabio Capello, said: “It’s very bad news. It is very important that we have a left- sided defender who is good. It’s very important to us that he is back.”

If Cole does not make a full return to fitness in time to play a part for England in South Africa, then the only other option is one, which has emerged as less than perfect.

Manchester City’s Wayne Bridge is the only other player who could do a similar job to Ashley Cole. He plays in the same attacking way as Cole and probably has the edge in terms of being a better defender.

However, Cole would not have a problem playing next to John Terry in the England defence and it has obivously emerged that Bridge playign next to Terry would not be ideal.

So already the headaches have started and even though there is still a long time before England’s first game in South Africa, people are already talking about the World Cup. There is no doubt that England have a much better chance if Cole is fit and raring to go.

In a strange sense, Cole getting injured now is a lot better than Cole getting injured in two months time. There is a glimmer of hope and while there is that glimmer of hope, we should not all do the typically English thing and strart moaning and rubbishing the national team’s chances because of one player getting injured.

Ashley Cole will probably feel a bit lucky and even though this news is obviously bad, Cole will soon feel a determination to pay back on the luck if he does get fit and can play a part in helping England to World domination in June and July.

Chelsea midfielder, Frank Lampard, has leapt to the defence of his England teammate, Joleon Lescott, after he was subjected to a booing from England fans in the recent friendly win over Slovenia.

Lescott recently moved to Manchester City in a high profile, big money move that has led a number of fans to say that Lescott effectively left Everton to go and play for bigger money, suggesting that the player does not wear his heart on his sleeve and is in effect a mercenary.

However, Lampard himself is no stranger to criticism and booing from his own Chelsea and England admirers and simply says that the criticism should make Lescott more determined and a better player.

The Chelsea star said: “Maybe people respected the fact I stepped up and took that penalty at a very difficult moment, particularly because it had been a funny period for me before then. Booing is part of modern culture. It is unfortunate but as players we have to take that as the way it is. I have had a little bit of it, Ashley has too, but the only benefit out of it is people will come out stronger. It makes you tougher.”

“I don’t know Joleon well but, from what I’ve seen, he’s tough. The timing of his move was unfortunate. He is just trying to forward his career in an upward direction but, because it was so prolonged, people make a lot of judgments. He has never shown me he is not putting in 100% effort and trying to do his best.”

The reason that a lot of fans seem to have a problem with Lescott is the fact that his former club, Everton, gave him a great opportunity to show his commitment to the side as they obviously did not want him to leave. Ashley Cole was subjected to similar booing and criticism when he joined Chelsea from London rivals Arsenal and says it is now just part of the game.

Cole added: “[Against Kazakhstan last summer] What was I thinking [at the time]? I want to go off. You just want a hole to open up and go in it.”

The players need to realise that they are at the very top of the sport they play in and the fans pay more money than ever before when they go to see a game. Therefore when they see a top player under performing or making a basic error, they feel as though they have a rigght to stand up and have a boo if it makes them feel better.

Lescott is professional enough to let it wash over him but it is something he may just have to endure for the rest of his career.