Tottenham wide-man Gareth Bale has been named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year.
The 21-year-old’s stock has gone through the roof this season with a string of sensational performances for Spurs in both the Premier League and the Champions League, most notably in the clashes with Inter Milan during the group stage.
Bale netted a wonderful solo hat-trick as Spurs almost came from 4-0 down to rescue a point at the Giuseppe Meazza, and the Wales international then produced another dazzling display when they two teams met again at White Hart Lane, setting up all three goals as Spurs stunned the European champions.
That form earned him the attention of European football’s most prestigious clubs and it has now landed him the PFA award from his peers, making him the fourth Welshman to receive the prize.
Bale said: “I am more than delighted really. It is a massive award and it is a great honour to receive, especially from other fellow professionals.
“It is a honour really when you look at the names that have won it before and it just makes you go 'wow' really. There haven't been too many Welshman to have won the trophy but it is great and it is great for me personally.
“And it is not just for me, it is for all my team-mates that have helped me through the season and it is kind of for everyone really.”