Tottenham great Glenn Hoddle has weighed into manager Jose Mourinho's blow-up with Gareth Bale after last week's social media antics.

Mourinho was forced to explain Bale's absence for the FA Cup defeat at Everton after the Wales captain had posted a message to social media about being fit to train. The Spurs manager explaining - reluctantly - that Bale had actually requested not to be considered for selection, despite being fit.

For Hoddle, the former Spurs manager and UEFA Cup winner simply finds the whole situation baffling. Though he points out Bale did appear in the defeat to Manchester City, suggesting talk of a growing rift is being overplayed.

Hoddle said on his podcast, ' The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show': "Yeah, I don't know what's going on there. He was asking for a scan, but I don't really know what's going on there.

"But he did come on against City, so there couldn't have been that too much of a falling out. So we shouldn't make too much of it."

However, Hoddle admits he wants to see more from Bale as he continues to struggle to meet expectations after his summer loan arrival from Real Madrid.

"One thing's for sure: Gareth Bale has to be doing better," continued Hoddle, "to get in the team, or get off the bench and have more minutes on the football pitch. He has to do better than he has.

"He had one or two champagne moments (against City) where he beat two or three players and had a shot. If that goes into the top corner it might just kickstart his career or restart it at Tottenham.

"Something like that has to happen for him. But he has to force it and make that happen."

Indeed, Hoddle is convinced if Bale can produce more of those promising "champagne moments", Mourinho won't hesitate in selecting the left-sided attacker from start.

"He's just not doing that enough to force Mourinho to put him in the team or use him from the bench more."

And Hoddle is adamant Bale can get back to his best - if he is prepared to look within and shake himself from this current form slump.

He added: "I do believe there's still ability in there. I still don't think he's searched within himself to get that out. There IS more to come. But how he gets more time on the pitch is a difficult one because Jose needs to see that.

"He'll respond and react as a manager off that when sees that sort of application and end product."

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