Jose Mourinho has said that Gareth Bale might have to be content with a place on the bench for Tottenham's game at Fulham on Thursday.
The Wales international put in his best display of the season by scoring two goals and grabbing an assist in the 4-0 win over Burnley on Sunday.
But Mourinho continues to insist that Bales's time on the pitch must be managed carefully as he recovers from an injury-hit season and two years of inactivity at Real Madrid.
However, he will definitely be involved at Craven Cottage, either from the start or off the bench.
"I believe so. Start the game, being on the bench, I don't know. We have to decide," Mourinho said.
"|He's such an experienced guy so of course his opinion is very important. But good reaction, good recovering session and he will be involved. I repeat: bench or starting but he'll be there."
Bale's return to top form has been a long time coming as it looked like his loan return from Real Madrid was going to be a flop.
Asked why it had taken the 31-year-old so long to get to top form, Mourinho said: "Why for the past two years he had what he had in Madrid? Ask them. Maybe if they answer you, you can understand better why he took a while.
"Maybe to be patient was the main reason for him to reach the level he showed in the last couple of weeks."
On player that will not be making the shortish trip across London is Giovani Lo Celso. Mourinho says the Argentine midfielder is still "one to two weeks away from being ready" and will not be risked.
__________________________________________________________________
Spurs 4 Burnley 0: player ratings
________________________________________________________________
While Spurs – currently eighth in the table six points behind fourth-place West Ham – are looking to push thmselves back towards a Champions League spot, opponents Fulham also have their eyes on moving up the table.
The Cottagers have lost just once in the past eight games, moving within striking distance of safety, just three points behind Newcastle and Brighton heading into the next round of fixtures.
Parker, though, will not allow any attention to wander to what might transpire elsewhere over their final 12 games.
"Never am I looking at a league table and that will be my stance through to the end of the season," Parker said.
"We got to this point we are now by concentrating on us and what we need to do. Our sole focus is us.
"The energy you lose from worrying about the what-ifs is really negative and it can sink you.
"I cant afford to watch a game the night before our game hoping for something to happen or it doesn't happen, then my performance levels drop as a coach of the team."
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Dubai Creek Open in numbers
- The Dubai Creek Open is the 10th tournament on this year's Mena Tour
- It is the first of five events before the season-concluding Mena Tour Championship
- This week's field comprises 120 players, 21 of which are amateurs
- 15 previous Mena Tour winners are competing at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
