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Michael Dawson has urged Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho to give Gareth Bale a run of three or four matches in the starting XI to try build some rhythm in his game.

Bale, 31, rejoined Spurs in the summer on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, but he’s not quite had the fairytale return that many expected.

The Welshman has had a stop-start campaign so far, with injuries and a lack of game time impacting him.

He’s scored four goals in 15 games across all competition this season, starting just a couple of times in the Premier League.

The return of the Europa League competition could end up giving him more minutes on the pitch to try get back to his best, but ex-Spurs player Dawson insists that he’ll only improve with consecutive starts.

“He came with an injury and he hasn’t hit the ground running. In his defence he hasn’t had many minute,” Dawson told talkSPORT.

“When he has he hasn’t performed, but he needs time. He needs game time. He was out for a few weeks when he came back and then he’s chucked into cup games and he does okay. But you need a run of games.

“Yes, he played against Brighton and he wasn’t great, but give him another chance and stick with him for three or four games.”

TBR’s View:

It’s a valid point that it’s difficult to discover your best with constant small cameo performances from the bench.

Unfortunately, Spurs attacker Bale hasn’t done enough whenever he’s on the pitch and clearly isn’t convincing his manager Mourinho on the training pitch.

The left-footer should be pushing to nail down a starting position in the side as the right-winger, but some are questioning if his best days are a long way behind him.