No special measures for Bale

Posted Saturday, September 24, 2011 by PA

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admits there can be no special plan for flying winger Gareth Bale because Tottenham have so many players who can hurt them.

Last weekend Spurs ripped apart nine-man Liverpool with Martin Skrtel, a centre-back playing out of position on the right of defence, given a torrid time by the Wales international before eventually getting himself sent off.

The Latics may also have a central defender on the right - Adrian Lopez played there in the defeat to Everton because of an injury to Emmerson Boyce - but Martinez said to focus on one specific area of their opponents' armoury would be a mistake.

"It will be a big mistake if you focus on one or two players of Spurs because you will get damaged by the others so you need to be careful," said the Spaniard.

"It is difficult because if you put so much attention on Gareth Bale then you will give too much time to Luka Modric, Scott Parker, Jermain Defoe or Emmanuel Adebayor - and the list goes on.

"You need to be well balanced and keep the ball well.

"When you play against a side like Spurs you need to be perfect as they have no real weaknesses.

"They are in a great moment of form and are getting stronger and stronger.

"That performance against Liverpool was one of the highlights of the campaign so far.

"It shows you why they had such a starring role in the Champions League and the football they have played the last two seasons has been outstanding.

"They have a real understanding within the team with a good combination of hungry players and those who have been there a long time.

"If we are going to win on Saturday it will be because we will be outstanding and not how poor Spurs will be."

Hugo Rodallega will miss Spurs` visit and could be sidelined for a month after injuring his knee last weekend.

Boyce was absent for the defeat at Everton with a hamstring problem and remains a doubt.

Defenders Steven Gohouri (calf) and Antolin Alcaraz (thigh) are still not fully fit.

Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp has been delighted with the start that Adebayor has made to his Tottenham career and has backed the striker to fire the club back in to the Champions League.

Adebayor will lead the line for Spurs for the third time this weekend having already exceeded expectations by scoring three times since signing on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

The Togo striker scored on his debut at Wolves a fortnight ago and followed that up by bagging a well-taken brace against top-four rivals Liverpool last weekend.

To Redknapp's delight, the 27-year-old has formed a strong partnership with Defoe, which has seen the England striker score three times and look a completely different player to the one that notched just four league goals last term.

Defoe's poor league form, and that of team-mates Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch, was one of the main reasons why Spurs fell just short in their bid to qualify for the Champions League last year.

The north London club scored 55 league goals last season - 17 less than Arsenal - but Redknapp is now sure that, in Adebayor, he has found a marksman capable of scoring the goals to put Spurs back among Europe's elite next term.

"He couldn't have had a better start for us," Redknapp said.

"If he has a great season he can take us to where we want to be.

"He is a really good player. There is no doubting his ability and Jermain Defoe has linked up well with him.

"He is full of enthusiasm. He trains, runs around like he is enjoying himself. He is full of the joys of spring.

"He always wants to get the ball and the lads have enjoyed having him. He could be a great player for us this year."

Rafael van der Vaart will start after coming through Tuesday's defeat at Stoke but is likely to play on the wing given Adebayor and Defoe's form and Aaron Lennon's failure to overcome a groin problem.

Sandro is available after recovering from a knee injury, William Gallas will be fit next week and Lennon has returned to training but is unlikely to be risked.