Pundit suggests one of Tottenham’s first-team players isn’t even up to MLS standards right now

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Tottenham Hotspur loanee Gareth Bale would currently struggle in the likes of the MLS with his current fitness levels, according to Optus Sport pundit Mark Schwarzer.

The 31-year-old rejoined Spurs on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid in mid-September, a move which saw the media spotlight shine brightly on North London.

However, his high-profile return has so far not gone to plan, with just 15 competitive appearances under his belt, 10 of which have been starts, and just 231 minutes of Premier League football.

Bale’s fitness has been called into question by some pundits over the past few weeks, with Glenn Hoddle telling talkSPORT he felt the Welshman didn’t look like he could break into a sprint.

Schwarzer has expressed his disappointment with how Bale looks like a “shadow of himself”.

He told Optus Sport: “It’s almost like somewhere along the line the switch has been turned off and I don’t know if it’s even possible to turn it back on again.”

Bale was previously linked with a move to China, but now Schwarzer believes that this could now also be out of the question, along with a move to the likes of the MLS or the A-League.

“What I would ask now is has his loan move to Tottenham hampered any opportunity he may have to go to China?” the Australia legend said.

“There is a lot tied into his name, but they also need a performance. I don’t think they’re signing someone just on a name alone. There are no mugs there.

“They’re incredibly fit and organised and getting better and better all the time. The league is actually at a decent level so you can’t go over there and think it’s a holiday.

“It’s not a retirement village. The contract he was offered when he almost went last season, I don’t think there’s going to be anything near that. If it all.

“If he was coming to the A-League you still have to be fit, you’ve got to get around, have that burst of pace.

“Whether it’s the A-League or MLS, the quality they’ve lost from the top leagues in the world they make up for in fitness and work rate and that’s something you can’t underestimate.

“A lot of players have gone out to Australia and the US and have said ‘wow it is so physically demanding and the work they put in, the training you do and the expectation in terms of work rate on a match day is intense’.

“You can’t go there thinking ‘it’s my retirement it’s going to be easy’ because it’s not.”

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The Tottenham fanbase was rejoicing when Bale rejoined Spurs, but several months down the line, he has flattered to deceive, to put it mildly.

The talent is there, but the fitness doesn’t seem to be – and Mourinho is a manager of high standards who won’t hesitate not to pick a player if he doesn’t fit in 100 percent.

Let’s hope that Bale prevails and can deliver some magic, goals, assists and victories in the last few months of the season.