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Glenn Hoddle has thrown down the gauntlet to Tottenham’s Gareth Bale by claiming he needs to continue his recent form going into games against tougher opponents.

Despite a fairly quiet season since he rejoined Spurs in the summer on loan from Real Madrid, he’s come alive in the past couple of weeks.

The left-footed attacker has four goals and three assists in his last four games across all competitions.

It’s worth noting though that two of those matches were against Austrian side Wolfsberger in the Europa League, as well as Premier League fixtures with West Ham and Burnley.

The 31-year-old would surely love to extend his purple patch in upcoming league matches against Fulham and Crystal Palace, while beyond that is a Europa League tie with Dynamo Zagreb and the North London derby.

Hoddle has been impressed with Bale’s emergence at Spurs lately, but now wants to see him sustain it over a longer period and against strong teams.

“It has taken some time but he is now performing how we wanted him to. If he can keep reproducing anything like that then that is going to be a massive shot in the arm for Tottenham,” Hoddle told the Evening Standard.

“The next step for Gareth is doing it against better opposition. No disrespect, Burnley did not turn up on Sunday and Wolfsberger are not the strongest side in Europe. I am not taking anything away from Gareth, because he looks like he has got his fitness and his sharpness back, and to me he looks confident.”

TBR’s View:

Upcoming fixtures look kind to Spurs, which is perfect for Bale to keep momentum going.

If Jose Mourinho’s side can now include an in-form Bale, then they look a far more dangerous outfit and a frightening proposition in attack.

The right-winger can be part of a Spurs front trio alongside Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son that will leave fans purring.