Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has insisted team-mate Gareth Bale deserves to be honoured among the world's best players after the winger made it into the UEFA.com users' Team of the Year for 2011.

Bale was the only Premier League player selected alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Dawson said: "There are some world-class players in that team and he's in there on merit, amongst the best.

"Gaz is actually quite a quiet lad. He's not someone who goes around shouting and screaming, he gets on with his job and he's not changed as a person from when he wasn't playing regularly a couple of years ago to now.

"He comes in, gets on his with work and works hard every day.

"He's such a naturally fit lad, energy to burn and the quality and consistency of his performances mean he deserves to be rated right up there.

"As I've said many times before when I've been asked about him, on his day, he's unstoppable.

"No one here is surprised to see how well he's done.

"He signed for us back in 2007, when he was still developing and it took him a while to come on, but now it seems he's been around for years.

"People forget he's only 22. He's still young and I'm sure there is more to come."