Tottenham 1 Blackpool 1: Adam goes on defensive over tackle which left Bale facing an ankle scan

Bale left the ground on crutches with a protective boot around his left leg after Adam’s 64th-minute challenge.

The Scot appeared to stamp on Bale’s ankle as he went in for the tackle after the 21-year-old was knocked off balance by Blackpool midfielder Keith Southern.

The Welshman was clearly left in serious pain by the challenge and immediately waved for the physio before being carried off on a stretcher.

Bale, who has suffered from back and hamstring problems this term, will go for a scan today to determine whether the tackle has caused any ligament damage that could rule him out for some time.

But Adam, who was shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year award which Bale won, went into the Tottenham dressing room to apologise to the former Southampton player after the game and stressed he never meant to hurt the player.

Adam said: “I just saw the ball. I just tried to get it. It was never intentional. I never tried to hurt him because he’s a wonderful player and at the end of the day I’d rather see these players on the pitch.”

Adam rounded off a difficult week by scoring the penalty which sent the Seasiders ahead before Jermain Defoe saved the hosts’ blushes with an 89th-minute equaliser.

Alan Shearer criticised the midfielder for his performance at Stoke last week and manager Ian Holloway admitted he considered dropping the player because of his recent dip in form.

The 25-year-old had to have two chances to score the opener, as he saw his first spot-kick saved by Heurelho Gomes before the Spurs goalkeeper – pumped up from his save – bundled over Gary Taylor-Fletcher from the resulting corner to give Adam a second chance from 12 yards.

The skipper made no mistake from the spot before pointing to the Blackpool badge and his captain’s armband in front of the travelling support.

“I just wanted to put the second one in the net. I was disappointed to miss one, but I was confident to take it,” said Adam, who came within minutes of signing for Spurs in the January transfer window.

“In these types of games you have to show a bit of character.

“It’s been a difficult time for the club. We’ve been through a lot in the past few years.”