Bale’s Spurs return should leave Lucas ‘absolutely sweating’, says Hutton

Former Tottenham defender Alan Hutton predicts a grim fate awaits Lucas Moura following Gareth Bale’s return.

After seven years away at Real Madrid, Bale returned to Spurs last weekend on a season-long loan deal. His arrival has created an immense wave of excitement, with fans hopeful of a similar spell to that of his first.

But while everyone hails the Welshman’s reunion with Spurs, the question of who will have to make way for him in the team beckons.

And it appears that man will be Lucas, who has started in both of the club’s Premier League games this season so far.

The Brazilian winger has proven to be a valuable member of the squad since his €28.4m arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in January 2018. He’s had some memorable moments, as well as playing a huge role in Spurs reaching the Champions League final in 2018/19.

However, Hutton believes Lucas’ minutes will drop once Bale is ready to return from injury after the international break in October.

“Absolutely sweating,” Hutton told Football Insider on how Lucas should feel on his Spurs future.

“At the end of the day, if he plays on that right-hand side where Moura is and cuts in, that’s where Bale, in my opinion, will play.”

“Moura, he’s had great moments but [has been] inconsistent so if you see someone like Bale coming in from Real Madrid, you know you’re not playing, me as a player, if that was me I’d be thinking Gareth Bale’s coming in to play when he’s fit. It’s as simple as that.”

On the delay for Bale’s return to action, Hutton added: “You either do it two ways as a player – you crumble and say, ‘All right, well he’s going to play’ or you say, ‘I’ve four or five weeks until he’s fit to prove to the manager I deserve to be playing.”

Lucas could feature in Spurs’ trip to Shkendija in a Europa League qualifier on Thursday.