Redknapp willing to wait for 'doubtful' Bale

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists that he will not risk Gareth Bale in tomorrow's Champions League showdown with AC Milan unless he is convinced that his star winger is 100% fit.

Bale looked set to start the second leg of the last-16 tie at White Hart Lane after training with his team-mates today, 48 hours after making a successful comeback from his six-week back injury layoff against Wolves.

The 21-year-old looked sprightly in the 3-3 draw at Molineux, breaking through the Wolves defence on one occasion to almost grab a goal that would have earned Spurs victory.

The Wales winger did not react well to a full training session with his team-mates this morning though, making him a major doubt for tomorrow night.

Redknapp's team are favourites to progress anyway after they beat Milan 1-0 in the first leg, but he would be forgiven for throwing the Welshman into his team given his stunning impact on the club's Champions League campaign this season.

However, the Spurs boss is adamant that he will not ask Bale to start the game unless he is fully fit.

"I'm sure Gareth is desperate to play, but I don't think he will play if he doesn't feel 100%," Redknapp said.

"Obviously I would love to start him, if he is fit. He is a fantastic player for us. But if he's not quite right then I wouldn't want to take a chance on him. If the boy says he is not ready to start then I wouldn't push him.

"This morning he felt he wasn't quite ready to start. His back was okay but he felt a little stiff in his legs, so we will wait until tomorrow to see how he is.

"At the moment it would be doubtful whether he would be fit to start."

If they avoid defeat, Redknapp's team will secure their passage through to the last eight of the Champions League in what has been a remarkable debut season in the competition.

The club have registered wins over both Milan clubs, Werder Bremen, FC Twente and Young Boys Berne while treating their fans to a series of pulsating games at White Hart Lane, where they hold a 100% record in the competition.

The Londoners are outsiders to clinch the trophy itself, but Redknapp would not rule his team out of making the final at Wembley in two months' time.

"It's there for someone to win it and we're still in it," he said. "We have to play Milan first and we know how hard that will be. But I'm sure all our players want to continue in this competition as I do, and all the staff.

"It's a fantastic competition. Once you have played in it, you want more and we want to stay in as long as we can. It's a wide-open competition this year again."

Tottenham may have won the heart of many neutrals with their brand of attacking football this season, but doubts remain whether a team that has conceded 14 goals in the competition will be able to defeat Europe's elite clubs.

Redknapp admits his side do have defensive flaws but has ruled out the possibility of sending them out to defend against Milan.

"We are not coming here to sit on a 1-0 lead," he said. "My message to the players will be: 'Let's get after them and let's press them' and hopefully we will be able to go and score again.

"I wouldn't want to put a negative thought in the players' minds at all. It's a game we want to win, so let's get after them."

Vedran Corluka could start, after making a quick recovery from the ankle sprain he sustained during the 1-0 win at the San Siro.

The Croatian defender was on the receiving end of a horrific tackle from Matthieu Flamini - who Redknapp is sure will get a hostile reception.

"They will give him a very warm welcome," he said. "I'm sure he expects that coming here as an ex-Arsenal player and having made a bad tackle in the first leg."