GARETH BALE has labelled Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam “a coward” after suffering an ankle injury in Tottenham’s pre-season friendly stalemate with the Reds on Saturday.

The Welshman was on the receiving end of a late challenge from Adam in the first half of the sides’ clash in Baltimore, and left the M&T Bank Stadium wearing a protective boot. He will be assessed upon his return to the UK, with Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas publicly criticising the Liverpool man for the challenge.

Adam and Bale have previous; a clash between the pair in May 2011, when Adam was at Blackpool, left Bale nursing ankle ligament damage – an injury which kept him out for three months.

“I was surprised to see a challenge like that in a friendly,” said Bale. “We are over here to build up our fitness. But what he did was over the top. Some people are like that and it’s just wrong.

“There are pictures on the internet of what he did before when he snapped all my ankle ligaments. I was out for three months that time and one player told me he went out to do the same thing to me again. From what I’ve seen of him on the pitch, I think he’s a bit of a coward.

“I haven’t had an apology from him but I don’t really want one from him, to be honest. That’s the kind of person he is. He’s done it before. I’m not going to accept his apology.”

Bale added: “I haven’t ever done anything to him. He’s obviously come for me twice now – and he’s got me twice.

“I suppose it’s flattering when players try to take you out but when it threatens your career, it becomes more serious. I would have understood had it been a slightly mis-timed tackle. But the ball was 10 yards past him and was nowhere near him when he came through my ankle. My ankle is very, very sore. We’ll have to wait and see how it goes.

“It’s unsportsmanlike and I don’t think any player should be like that. He didn’t say anything to me afterwards. I’ve had no apology. When someone makes a very bad tackle on you in a game you expect him to come up and apologise.”

Villas-Boas said: “I think it was a very nasty challenge from Charlie. The player had gone and he came in from behind on Gareth’s ankle. I did not know the previous history between the two. I do now.”

Bale’s Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker, meanwhile, insists Adam’s apparent grudge against Bale stems from jealousy.

Walker said: “It’s simple. He is jealous, as Gareth is such a good player.”