Bale Warns Tottenham of More to Come After Sluggish Madrid Start

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale has warned critics of his early form since moving from Tottenham Hotspur that he is on the brink of getting back to his very best.

The Welshman, who missed most of pre-season amid discussions regarding his future at White Hart Lane, was criticised for a series of poor displays - including in the El Classico defeat to Barcelona - upon his move to Los Blancos at the end of the summer transfer window.

After selling Bale for a world record £85m in the summer, and signing seven players including Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado, Tottenham fans had good reason to revel in Bale's early struggles at Spain.

But with three goals and five assists in his last four games in all competitions, Bale has firmly dismissed early doubts over his ability to settle into life at the Bernabeu and the 24 year old has told critics from Tottenham and afar that his best form is still to come.

"It was just a matter of time," Bale said. "I needed to get my fitness back, get games, get training. Now everyone has seen what I can do. There is still a lot more to come, I know. I just need to keep working now and hopefully there are a lot more goals and assists to come.

"I have just finished my pre-season, and there is a lot more to come. Now hopefully I can score a lot more goals and help the team to achieve big things.

"When you play with the greatest players it is easy. He is unbelievable in his own right. He scores hat-tricks every week. He is unbelievable. To be in the same team as him, scoring goals and giving assists, is great for me."

As if Tottenham fans needed further reason to be downcast, with just nine goals in 11 Premier League games despite a summer which saw the addition of a host of attacking and creative players, Spurs are feeling the effects of Bale's sale more than ever.

After starting the season as outsiders for the title, Tottenham are five points off the pace and suffered their third defeat of the campaign against Newcastle United last Sunday.

Bale earned a reputation for often being the difference in the tightest of matches last season for Spurs and with Andre Villas-Boas' side suffering in front of goal in the league, his renewed form for Madrid will hurt even more.