Town wideman Wes Burns has hailed fellow countryman and recently-retired Welsh international Gareth Bale as the greatest British player of all time.

Bale, 33, announced earlier this month that he was hanging up his boots with immediate effect and when the tributes started to pour in, many agreed he was the best player ever to play for Wales.

But Burns has taken it a stage further. When asked to paint a picture of the player who was only 16 when handed his senior debut at first club Southampton by ex-Blues boss George Burley in April 2006, Burns said: “Oh, that’s a mad question.

“To be fair, it’s kind of hard to put into words what he’s done, not just for Welsh football, but for Wales in general. He’s put us on the biggest stages in world football in terms of the Euros and the World Cup.

“But it’s not only that, it’s just the way he has sort of paved the pathway for younger boys in Wales to kick on with football.

“Without him we’d probably still be where we were 10 or 15 years ago. Welsh football was a little bit gloom and doom back then.

“What a career he has had — and in my opinion he is the greatest British player of all time, just going on what he has achieved, what he’s won and what he’s done for the sport. Basically, that’s how I would sum him up.”

Burns has worked with Bale at close quarters during Welsh international get-togethers and, when asked what he was like to train with, responded: “To be fair, when we were away with Wales, a lot of the time it was very much a case of ‘Nobody go anywhere near Gaz’ because we didn’t want him to get injured.

“So, he was able to stroll through training and do what he wanted, but when he switched it on it was something for us to take a step back and just take in what he was able to do with a ball. I learned quite a lot from watching him. Even after training he would stay out and do a bit of work on his free-kicks and things like that.

“It always attracted a crowd of the lads, even if it was just him and a goalkeeper working together. The lads were always watching and trying to learn from him. He was a massive role model in terms of a learning curve.”

When asked to nominate Bale’s best-ever goal, Burns added: “I think just about everyone is going to say his best goal was the bicycle kick in the Champions League final for Real Madrid against Liverpool. Not only was it a bicycle kick, it was performed on the biggest club stage of them all and I really don’t think it can get any better than that.”

Photo: Matchday Images

SickParrot added 14:42 - Jan 20 At his best Bale was in the top 5 but for me Bestie was the greatest British player of all time.
1

Scuzzer added 15:12 - Jan 20 Absolute BS May have been the greatest ever Welsh player...but not even close on the British claim.
1

Scuzzer added 15:18 - Jan 20 ...and another thing...the headline claims he is the greatest of all time...so...all the comments about it not being fair to compare from different eras...well...its exactly what has been done here.
0

DifferentGravy added 15:33 - Jan 20 Just insulting. He was a good player, reliant on a wealth of pace. Pace has gone and so has he. Made a fantastic living the last 7 or so years doing very little. As others have mentioned....Best, Greaves, Charlton, Gascoigne. John Wark was a far better player......could play in midfield, up front, in defence...loads of assists and goals.
3

EricGatesShinpad added 15:37 - Jan 20 Sorry Wes but you have this one wrong. Bale Vs Beattie ? I know who would be lacing up the others boots ....
3

Cadiar added 15:38 - Jan 20 Really wonder if people ever saw Bale play. To compare Greaves, Charlton, Giggs to Bale Really is delusional.
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grumpyoldman added 15:47 - Jan 20 It is difficult to compare players from different eras due to the changes over time not only to fitness but also styles of play. Would Bale have lasted playing against players like “Chopper” Harris, Nobby Styles, Tommy Smith or Norman Hunter? Would known drinker Jimmy Greaves been able to compete in todays football. For me the best is the Beat!
1

kpblues added 15:47 - Jan 20 Sorry Wes but not sure he outshines everybody although maybe the best in the modern era. Heavy competition in the past... Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks, George Best, Jimmy Greaves, Stanley Matthews, Bobby Moore, Kenny Dalglish, Billy Wright, Kevin Keegan, John Charles.
1

kpblues added 15:51 - Jan 20 Sorry Wes but not sure he outshines everybody although maybe he was the best in the modern era. (If only he could kick with his right foot as well!) Heavy competition in the past... George Best, Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks, George Best, Jimmy Greaves, Stanley Matthews, Bobby Moore, Kenny Dalglish, Billy Wright, Kevin Keegan, John Charles.
1

NthQldITFC added 16:42 - Jan 20 Thanks exeterblue10, that gave my monitor a shower of coffee! :D
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itfctim added 17:21 - Jan 20 Patriotic Wes, but there are a list of British players that have players that, back in the day, would have kept Bale on the bench at best.
2

Columbo added 17:38 - Jan 20 Well John Charles was the greatest Welsh player of all time so quite how Bale is the best ever British player is laughable.
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Eeyore added 18:59 - Jan 20 Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Wes, think before you speak.
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timkatieadamitfc added 19:11 - Jan 20 I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion so here's mine. Wes your talking bolocks, he's not even best Welsh player - Giggs, absolutely brilliant when he left spurs for Madrid for about 3/4 seasons, but what's he done the last 3 seasons, elite players do it ALL their careers, just take a look what Messi did in last world cup and what bale did - pretty much non existent in all 3 games. Best quote from world cup from a Welsh fan - I hope we bring bale on at half time has it all.

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CornardBlue added 19:13 - Jan 20 Bobby Charlton by far the best, Duncan Edwards would have been but for Munich.
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Nomore4 added 19:15 - Jan 20 Bale is Burn,s idol. Burns hasn't been the same player since training with the various multi millionaires in the Wales squad.
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