Tottenham’s Gareth Bale is on target to return to full fitness for the start of the season according to reports today.

Bale showed bags of potential in just 8 appearances last season, notching 2 goals and an assist. A foot injury sidelined the left-back from that point and kept him out for the rest of the season. However, Bale is now fighting fit for the new season and should find himself in the reckoning for starts in Ramos’ side, presenting fantasy managers with a very decent option.

Although classed as a defender across the fantasy games, Bale could well hold down a wide midfield role, particularly if Malbranque moves on in the next few weeks. Even from left-back, his foraging runs and ability from set-pieces would certainly make him the pick of the Spurs defenders.

Sadly, that’s reflected in his price in the Fantasy Premier League game. Here Bale is available for 6.0 – the most expensive of the Spurs backline. That puts him in the same price range as the Chelsea/Liverpool rotation crew of Arbeloa, Degen, Dossena, Belletti and Ferreira – not major attractions by any means. However, Bosignwa and Laursen are certainly attractive options at this price and Bale will have to make an impact in pre-season to displace those two in the minds of many FPL managers.

In the Telegraph it’s a different story. Bale is priced at just £3.4 – putting him in the same bracket as benchwarmers like Senderos and Baines and uninspiring signings like Boro’s Young and Newcastle’s Taylor. In this game then, Bale looks a good bet if he gets a sniff of regular first-team action.