Under-fire Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has made an admission about Gareth Bale after the Welshman was involved in three goals in his past two games for the club.

Read: Mourinho Reacts To Criticism Over His Football Philosophy

Bale scored a goal and assisted a further strike in Spurs' 4-1 UEFA Europa League win over Wolfsberger AC last week, before setting up Lucas Moura's header in the Lilywhites' 2-1 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday.

Mourinho, though, has come in for some criticism with his men having lost five of their past six Premier League games, with several questions being asked as to why Bale is not starting more matches.

"I know his quality," the Portuguese tactician told BT Sport.

"I believe that, as a coach, I don't have to speak about the situation.

"With Gareth Bale completely fit and ready to play 90 minutes of every game, of course he would.

"We are trying everything to recover him to be at a good level.

"But, for example, to play 60 or 65 minutes like he did on Thursday... today he couldn't start the game. He wouldn't have 90 minutes to give us. That's the situation.

"But, I'm happy because he brings us what we know he brings. He brings us quality and he had a very unlucky shot."

With Spurs having dropped to ninth place on the Premier League log, they are now nine points behind West Ham in fourth position, but do have a game in hand.

Click through the gallery below to see where Mourinho ranks among football's highest-earning managers: