Tottenham attacker Rafael van der Vaart says Gareth Bale is now a tougher prospect for opposition fullbacks this season.

Van der Vaart noted the apparent new-found durability and claimed it was making a containing job on Bale an even more thankless task.

"Gareth is so quick and strong, I'm just glad I don't have to mark him," he said. "There have been a lot of cards for fouls against him already this season, but that's because it's impossible to stop him at times.

"He goes on one of those runs, and all you can do is resort to kicking him or pulling him down. But the good thing for us is that he gets back on his feet and gets on with it.

"Sometimes, when he is on the floor, you think he is heading for hospital. But he bounces back up again, and you just look on in admiration. He is still young and is only going to get stronger."