Neville lauds ´outstanding´ Bale

Everton captain Phil Neville has described Tottenham’s Gareth Bale as the best left winger in the English Premier League – if not Europe.

Neville, 34, will go up against the Wales international on Wednesday in Everton’s league meeting with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

“Gareth is maturing into an outstanding left-winger, probably the best in the Premier League if not in Europe,” Neville said.

“We are going to have to be at our best to stop him. I see a better player than the one from last season. He is adding things to his game every year.”

“When I was young, each year I was told, ‘You have got to add something new to your game, you have got to try to improve five or 10 percent’.”

“I see him doing things now that he wasn’t doing 12 months ago. Teams have tried to block him on the flanks, but he has started coming into the middle.”

“He has scored a lot of goals and that is something he has added.”

Neville also believes third-placed Spurs have the quality and the determination to threaten league leaders Manchester City and former club Manchester United, who lie in second.

“I think Spurs are genuine contenders. The outstanding two are (Manchester) City and United, but the result that has impressed me most about Tottenham was the 1-0 against West Brom. That showed a real determination,” he said.

“That is what you have got to do to win championships. You can’t always win by three or four and play free-flowing football.”

“Maybe with the additions they have got, they have got the doggedness that they may not always have had. Wednesday will be a real test for both teams, coming out of the Christmas period.”