The Stoke midfielder had already previously caused Bale to be out for three months in 2011, when he caught him with a late challenge in a pre-season friendly while still at Liverpool over the summer.

The Spurs attacker branded Adam a 'coward' after the game, but the 26-year-old insisted the incident should be left in the past.

"What happened in the past has happened. I apologised to him during the (pre-season) game, after a corner," Adam told reporters.

"I said to (Bale) I was sorry and thought everything was alright. I also apologised to the manager of Tottenham at half-time.

"Then all of a sudden I was being called a coward. That's football and it won't stop me tackling and trying to be the player I am. I hope it is done and dusted now."