Lou Macari: Stop Bale and Stoke can earn their Spurs

STOKE will be keeping their fingers crossed that Gareth Bale hasn't recovered from a hamstring injury before they face Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

The Wales winger has hit a different gear in the last 18 months or so and clearly makes a huge difference to any preparation and team-talk Tony Pulis has in mind this week.

Bale, right, has been at the centre of plenty of controversy after being booked no fewer than four times in 2012 for simulation.

And on plenty of other occasions he has been accused of over-egging his old fall when fouled.

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Andre Villas-Boas has defended his man, as you would expect, by saying Bale is falling so theatrically because he is trying to avoid injury.

Given the fragile make-up of today's players, it's a theory I'm willing to accept on this occasion.

But Bale has to accept that because of his dramatic improvement in the last couple of seasons, he is bound to be a target for the opposition.

'Stop him and you stop Tottenham' will have been said by more than one manager.

On a much higher level, that is something Lionel Messi has had to come to terms with long before now.

But this guy is of a different mentality to your average player these days.

As well as possessing great skill, he's also a tough little so-and-so who's prepared to take the knocks.

So when he does go down, usually without complaint I might add, you know he's been touched.

Stoke go to White Hart Lane on Saturday in good spirits on the back of their seven-match unbeaten league run.

And they've shown in the past they can have some joy at Spurs.

Stoke won there two seasons ago, while last season they would have repeated that victory had Spurs not levelled right at the end.

Tottenham can tear you apart if you let them and if you concede early.

But defend well, as I'd expect Stoke to do, and you can frustrate them and come away with something.