Mauricio Pochettino: 'Gareth Bale is a decisive player'

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that his side will need to be wary of the ability of Gareth Bale when the two sides meet on Saturday.

Bale has been rewarded for his performance with three awards within a week, and Pochettino is aware that the Welsh international is capable of producing a match-winning performance.

The 41-year-old told reporters: "He is a very decisive player - an amazing player because of his speed, strength and goalscoring abilities.

"He has shown that throughout the season this year so I rate him very highly.

"Our collective game needs to be very strong tomorrow. We can't just focus on Gareth Bale - there are other players in that team that can raise their game."

The Argentine boss has taken Southampton to the brink of survival in the Premier League since arriving at the club in January.