Bale heads off Suarez as Premier League's best

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gareth Bale has become only the third man to be named the English Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year in the same season.

The 23-year-old Wales international, who also won the main award in 2011, has scored 19 Premier League goals this season - a tally bettered only by Manchester United striker Robin van Persie with 25 and controversial Liverpool forward Luis Suarez (23).

He took the main award - presented at a glittering ceremony - ahead of second-placed Suarez, last year's winner Van Persie, and fellow nominees Manchester United's Michael Carrick, and Chelsea pair Eden Hazard and Juan Mata.

Bale joins Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Mark Hughes in earning the main award twice. Ronaldo in 2007 and Andy Gray in 1977 won both awards in the same year.

Flying Bale's form has made him one of the most feared players in the Premier and Europa Leagues, and manager Andre Villas-Boas has said the Welshman's ability to take free-kicks compares favourably with the likes of Real Madrid's Ronaldo.

Spurs may now expect a flurry of big-money bids for the player, especially if they fail to land a Champions League berth, but an estimated valuation of over 40 million pounds (NZ$72.8 million) could put off suitors.