Tottenham Hotspur will have to reshuffle their defence after Gareth Bale was ruled out for the rest of the season. The club had expected him to return this month, but they are concerned that the left back could suffer further damage to his foot injury if he plays again this term.

It is a blow to Juande Ramos, the head coach, who has problems in defence. Ledley King, the central defender, cannot be relied on to play consecutive matches after returning from a knee injury, while Benoît Assou-Eko-tto, the left back, is out for the season with a knee problem. That leaves Jonathan Woodgate, whose injury record is poor, and Alan Hutton, who signed during last month’s transfer window, of the first-choice defence.

Pascal Chimbonda is likely to switch to left back after playing in that position in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Saturday and Gilberto is another option after the Brazil left back joined from Hertha Berlin last week.

Bale, 18, has made only eight league appearances for the club since he joined from Southampton for an initial £6 million in the summer. The Wales player arrived with a thigh and knee problem and then missed about a month of the season because of bruising to his right foot, suffered against Newcastle United in October.

Bale had an operation for a sprained ligament in the same foot in December after he suffered the injury during a defeat by Birmingham City. The cast was removed yesterday. “Although the surgeon was happy with the results of the X-rays, he does not anticipate Gareth being able to play any further part in this season,” Damien Comolli, the Tottenham sporting director, said. “We are all disappointed for Gareth, but his long-term fitness is our priority.”