Jose Mourinho insists fans are starting to enjoy ‘the best Gareth Bale’, who scored twice against Burnley on his first ever start at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Bale appeared back to his best as he produced a devastating display that included two goals and an assist in Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Burnley.

Gareth Bale scored twice and grabbed an assist for Tottenham against Burnley on Sunday
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The Wales international has enjoyed a resurgence in the last few weeks after a miserable start to his Spurs homecoming and delivered his most telling impact yet against the Clarets.

After opening the scoring in just the second minute, he then set up Harry Kane and was involved in Lucas Moura’s third as Jose Mourinho’s men ran riot in the first half.

He then added a brilliant second after the break to complete a fine afternoon’s work to help Spurs to just a second Premier League win in seven games.

Although it has taken five months for the on-loan Real Madrid forward to start firing, Mourinho has challenged the 31-year-old to remain in peak physical condition.

Jose Mourinho liked what he saw from the 31-year-old during the demolition of the Clarets
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“Yes, but he handled himself,” he told talkSPORT. “It’s like we are doing this altogether as a team.

“Him, myself, my staff, sports science, medicals, it is everything together. So even during the game I was asking, ‘Don’t let the fatigue arrive’.

“So you have to go out before fatigue arrives and we did that, so of course we are managing him. We left him on the bench in the Europa League, thinking that today could be important and he cannot play two games in a very short space of time.

“So yes, but his experience has helped a lot.”

Bale got his quickest ever Premier League goal when he prodded home Heung-min Son’s cross
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Bale came off the bench at half-time last weekend during the defeat to West Ham United and changed the game for the visitors, setting up Lucas Moura and then hitting the bar himself.

After a run of five defeats in six Premier League games, the sight of Bale once again tearing through defences will delight one half of north London.

And Mourinho believes there could be even more to come as Spurs chase a top four finish.

“It is the best Gareth Bale that we have had this season,” he added. “More confidence, better condition and no bad feelings with injuries.

“His left foot will always be his left foot, but the change of speed, the change of direction and winning duels was not something he was able to do three or four months ago.

“In this moment, he is giving us that so I’m very happy for the team because the team needs him.

“But very happy for Gareth because, of course, he is a Spurs boy and it means a lot to him to bring happiness to people.”

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