Two stories come to mind when I think about Gareth Bale. The first is centred on an FA Cup fourth round tie in January 2007.
There was a lot of hype around Bale, who was then in the Championship with Southampton. He was quick and wiry and came to face Manchester City full of confidence. He was my direct opponent that day, but that was the season where I had just been capped for the first time by England.
I'm only 13 months older than Gareth, who was then 17, but I felt invincible against him.