- Dec 27, 2004
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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has backed Gareth Bale to eventually become his first-choice left-back but admits the Wales youngster needs to work on the defensive side of his game.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto has been preferred in recent Premier League games, although Bale was given his chance for the full 90 minutes against NEC Nijmegen in the Uefa Cup on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Welsh international has played in eight of Spurs' league matches this season, but Redknapp insists he has the make-up to be one the best defenders in the league.
"He has to learn the game," Redknapp said. "He has everything to be a top player. He has to learn how to defend, learn how not to let people play balls inside him, learn to recover, just learn parts of his game.
"But it's all there. He's 6ft tall, a great athlete and I didn't know he had a long throw until the NEC game. It was amazing he threw it that far. He never showed that before, he kept it up his sleeve.
"He may have to play forward until he learns the position better but I can see him being a top left-back."
Benoit Assou-Ekotto has been preferred in recent Premier League games, although Bale was given his chance for the full 90 minutes against NEC Nijmegen in the Uefa Cup on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Welsh international has played in eight of Spurs' league matches this season, but Redknapp insists he has the make-up to be one the best defenders in the league.
"He has to learn the game," Redknapp said. "He has everything to be a top player. He has to learn how to defend, learn how not to let people play balls inside him, learn to recover, just learn parts of his game.
"But it's all there. He's 6ft tall, a great athlete and I didn't know he had a long throw until the NEC game. It was amazing he threw it that far. He never showed that before, he kept it up his sleeve.
"He may have to play forward until he learns the position better but I can see him being a top left-back."