Jose Mourinho admits he can't give Gareth Bale a run of games in the Tottenham team

Jose Mourinho has said he cannot give Gareth Bale the run of games the loan star needs to get up to speed for Tottenham.

The Wales international returned to north London in the summer on loan from Real Madrid to much fanfare but has managed just two Premier League starts all season, with Steven Bergwijn often the preferred man to feature on the right of attack.

Bale has returned a goal in each competition Tottenham have competed in so far this season but his performances, alongside Tottenham's other attacking players bar Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, have been largely disappointing.

Speaking ahead of Tottenham's Premier League London derby with Chelsea on Thursday, Mourinho mentioned Spurs' 1-0 loss at Brighton, during and after which Bale received plenty of criticism with Kane out injured and Son isolated up front.

Asked if he can afford Bale a run of matches, the former Chelsea manager replied: "No. I cannot do it.

"High level football is very difficult to do it [give a run of games], especially in a competition like the Premier League where the level is so high that it is very difficult to do it.

"In my opinion, it was the team that didn't have a good performance [against Brighton]. It was not Gareth individually, it was the team."

Mourinho also touched on Dele Alli, who he also said could be reintroduced into the squad following his failed move to Paris Saint-Germain, and his capabilities as a leader.

He added: "He has the potential to be a vey important player for us, yes. Leader, leadership, leadership on the pitch, leadership in the dressing room, that's a different story. On the pitch he can be very important for the team, yes.

"The good Dele Alli can be very important for Tottenham, 100%."

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