Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale is to miss the rest of the season with a ruptured ankle ligament, the English Premier League club announced after the Wales star underwent a scan on Monday.

A Tottenham statement said Bale, following consultations with an ankle specialist, will remain in a protective boot for up to 12 days before beginning rehabilitation, with the player expected to be fit for the start of preseason.

Bale had to be carried off on a stretcher following a challenge by Charlie Adam during Spurs' 1-1 draw with Blackpool on Saturday.

Before the scan details were announced, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had already ruled Bale out of Tuesday's match against Manchester City, a fixture that will have a key bearing on the race for the fourth Champions League place on offer to English clubs.

And he said Bale was likely to miss Spurs' remaining games, against Liverpool and Birmingham.