Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has lavished praise upon Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale, claiming that he is one of the world's best players.

Bale will face The Magpies in the Premier League's early kick off this afternoon.

Pardew has insisted that Bale is the best in the world in his position and said that he is among the "top five or six" in terms of ability.

"If anyone picked a World XI, you would have him in at left midfield, for sure. I can't think of anyone who would dislodge him from there," said Pardew.

"Gareth Bale is definitely among those top five or six players in the world I would say right now. That's the level he is playing at.

"There are not too many in the Premier League who could get in that team but he would be one of them."

Bale has scored three goals in his last three appearances for both club and country.