Spurs' Gareth Bale is reaping rewards for patience... and being told to toughen up by Harry Redknapp

Gareth Bale has revealed how showdown talks with Harry Redknapp made him 'toughen up' and become one of the most talked about players on the planet. Bale has been one of the stars of 2010, both in the Barclays Premier League and Champions League, with his performances against Inter Milan in the latter competition earning him superstar status. It is a fairytale turnaround for a player who endured an injury-blighted start to life at Tottenham and had to wait a record 24 Premier League games to be part of a winning side after joining them from Southampton three-and-a-half years ago. Renaissance man: Bale has undergone a remarkable turnaround Doubts the 21-year-old could fulfil his huge potential remained until the start of the year, when he finally managed to hold down a regular first-team slot and begin terrorising the world's best full-backs. 'Looking back on some things, I think, "Wow",' Bale said. 'A year ago, I did not think I would be doing stuff like that. Itdid take a while for me to hold down a first-team spot at Tottenham -and longer than I expected it would. 'I had a lot of injuries and was out for eight months with my foot injury and six months with my knee injury. 'But I don't think I ever thought my future lay elsewhere. 'When I wasn't playing, I went in to see the manager and to ask when was I going to be given my chance. 'There were a lot of things the manager wanted me to do and there were certain aspects of my game I needed to improve on. 'And he wanted me to toughen up as I was still a young boy at the time. So I worked hard in training to prove to him that I was worthy of a spot in the team. 'He always said, 'Be patient and keep working hard in training and you will get your chance'. 'So I was always confident, I just had to be prepared and ready to give 100 per cent when the chance came. And I got my chance and never looked back. 'I have always had the belief in my own ability, so I knew if I trained hard and was patient, things would happen for me. But I feel the main reason for my good form is playing week in week out, playing regularly is the best way for me to improve - and in every game I'm learning and growing in confidence.'  Liverpool set to turn attention to Diarra if Real Madrid pip them to M'VilaVan Bommel's agent lines up Holland veteran with move to City or SpursTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC