TOTTENHAM'S derby hero Danny Rose has revealed that Gareth Bale is his inspiration as he continues to wait for his breakthrough season, three years after joining Spurs. Twenty-year-old Rose cemented his place in Lilywhites folklore in April...

By Ben Pearce

TOTTENHAM'S derby hero Danny Rose has revealed that Gareth Bale is his inspiration as he continues to wait for his breakthrough season, three years after joining Spurs.

Twenty-year-old Rose cemented his place in Lilywhites folklore in April when his 35-yard volley helped Tottenham to their first league win over Arsenal for more than a decade.

However, having quit Leeds for White Hart Lane at the end of July in 2007, the England Under-21 international is yet to secure a regular place in Tottenham's matchday squad.

The famous derby victory is Rose's only appearance to date, and his Spurs career has been consistently interrupted by injury, as well as loan spells to Watford and Peterborough.

However, as the pacy winger prepares for his fourth season in north London, he admits that he has been inspired by Bale's commitment, and encouraged by his team-mate's dramatic progression at Tottenham over the last six months.

"You see Gareth Bale on the left side and he gives 100 per cent in every game he plays, so I just try to be like Gareth and hopefully I can have a season like he did last season," said Rose.

"I don't think it was until January that he got into the team. It was quite lucky to be fair because Benoit [Assou-Ekotto] got injured, but Gareth's never looked back. He's only a year older than me and he's down to earth as well so you can talk to him.

"When you see him going up and down the wing it helps all the youngsters, and the manager gave him his chance as well. I think it will be alright for me this season."

A knee injury denied Rose the chance to build on his dramatic derby debut at the end of last season, but he has been playing a prominent part in Spurs' pre-season programme.

The 5ft 8ins wide man has appeared as a second-half substitute against Bournemouth, New York Red Bulls and Sporting Lisbon, and he is sure to get another run-out in the next 48 hours.

A Spurs XI travel to face Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road tonight, and Tottenham then take on Villarreal at White Hart Lane tomorrow night (Thursday).

Rose scored the third goal in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth at Dean Court earlier in the month, when he was stationed at left-back.

And, having shaken off his injury during the summer, he is hoping to catch Redknapp's eye before the start of the season and improve his first-team prospects.

"Towards the end of the season I had an injection in my knee, so I wasn't able to do much and through the off-season the physios gave me a programme to do, knee strengthening," he said.

"I've been training hard for a good few weeks now and I just want to prove to the manager and all the fans that I'm good enough to be part of his plans this season."

You can see the full interview with Danny Rose on Spurs TV Online.