Gareth Bale is “100 per cent convinced” that he will be even better for Spurs next season, and admits that he is already looking forward to the next campaign.

The 21-year-old scored 11 goals between August 2010 and New Year’s Day, including a famous hat-trick against Inter Milan at the San Siro.

That treble brought the Welshman to the world’s attention and, although his second half to the campaign was undermined by injury, the PFA Player of the Year is adamant that the best is yet to come.

“I’m 100 per cent convinced in my mind that I’m going to be better next season,” he told Spurs TV. “It will be good to get a rest now, it’s been difficult in the second half of the season with so many games, but I’m confident that I can still keep learning.

“I’ve obviously been injured, it’s not nice, but I can’t wait for the next season to start, and getting stuck into it.

“In the first half of the season I felt confident in myself, playing all the time - especially playing wide left, I felt comfortable, and I felt like I was improving in every game.

“In the second half it was very frustrating for me, picking up a little back injury, then a hamstring and then my ankle, which finished my season. But it’s been a good season all round, apart from the injuries, and it’s something I’m looking to build on.”

Bale admits that his best performances came in the two meetings against Inter Milan in the Champions League, and the winger is keen to return to Europe’s top table.

“I played well in those two games and it was a great occasion, not just for me but for everyone involved,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed playing in the Champions League more than anything, it’s been one of those competitions where you compete against the best and show yourselves against the best.

“You’re one-on-one against the opposition and it’s ‘winner takes all’ in those games because they’re knockout matches. It’s been a great season – there’s been a lot of ups rather than downs - and hopefully there’s more to come.”

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