According to Martin Jol, Benoit Assou-Ekotto has responded well to treatment on his knee but will be out for another four to five weeks. Bale is back in light training but it is felt that he has not had enough conditioning to be ready for first team football. The two left backs join captain Ledley King and winger Aaron Lennon on the treatment table, leaving coach Martin Jol with a selection headache ahead of what promises to be the most important season for the club in the last ten years.