Bale…The new Ryan Giggs ?

 The superb hat-trick from Gareth Bale in the Champions League against Inter Milan and thmaster class at White Hart Lane in the home fixture puts Gareth Bale up there amongst the top Premier League players now in terms of status.

To score 3 goals against the holders with a man down not only goes a long way to show us what Tottenham are made of but also to confirm that they have nurtured a real talent in Bale.

He seems to have really found his feet at Tottenham after an indifferent start at White Hart Lane. Initially, Tottenham signed him as a left-back back but due to the form of another of Tottenham’s ‘finds’ Assou-Ekotto, he had found himself on the fringes. He was even made available for loan and was close to playing in The Championship.

An injury or two at Tottenham forced Redknapp into playing him in an unfamiliar role and within a few months his career has blossomed and all of a sudden everybody is talking about him.

His performances towards the end of last season have carried over to this campaign and he is now looking like Tottenham’s main threat in attack. His energy levels are one reason why he is looking so effective. To get up and down for 90 minutes, game after game, is something that not many can achieve. He can even surge past world class deferners in the final minutes of a match.

Obviously his age is an advantage but the quality he possesses in the final third is a danger to all Premier League and now Champions League defenses.

And to add goals to his armoury will potentially see him becoming a target for more established European clubs.

Although Harry Redknapp has stated that he is to stay it could depend on Tottenham qualifying for the Champions League again next year.

As Ryan Giggs approaches his final days it would be no surprise to see an interest from Manchester United. Inter Milan would naturally be following his progress closely and Real Madrid seem to want to buy every top class player.

If he continues his development it will be a big ask for Tottenham to retain him.

It is just a pity that he is not an Englishman as he would no doubt cure one of the longstanding problems of our wide left void.