RYAN GIGGS prepared to welcome Gareth Bale to the Premiership insisting the teenager has what it takes to be a major star.

Giggs, Wales captain and Bale's international team-mate, has no doubt that the youngster will take his £10million transfer in his stride.

Bale, on the verge of becoming a Tottenham player, is injured for Wales' friendly international with New Zealand at Wrexham tomorrow.

But national boss John Toshack is praying the 17-year-old will be fit for next Saturday's Euro 2008 home qualifier with the Czech Republic in Cardiff.

And Giggs is confident Bale will make the step up from Saints in style.

Giggs, who made his own top flight debut at the same age as Bale for Manchester United, knows what it takes to turn promise into a productive career.

And he said: "My advice for Gareth is to just carry on with what he is doing, that is why clubs have been interested in him.

"He has talent and a good temperament, he should not have any problems. If he carries on doing what he has been doing at Southampton, he won't go far wrong."

Bale could have become Giggs' team-mate at Old Trafford, but Giggs said: "It has been totally his own decision where he goes, he has plenty of advice I am sure. But a talent like that deserves to be in the Premiership.

"And that can only be good for Wales and Welsh football generally. We need as many players as possible playing in the top league.

"He has the physical attributes to be a top player. What he has to do is keep progressing like he is. He has a talent and what I have seen of him, I have been impressed.

"He has a good attitude, good behaviour and the way he conducts himself suggests he is also mature."

Toshack is equally delighted for the youngster he gave his international debut to a year ago.

He said: "I don't think Gareth will have been distracted by what has been happening over the last few days. It is more his ankle injury that is the problem, it will be a risk to play him against the Czechs.

"There's been so much talk about the transfer, the best boost he could have at the moment is to get himself fit. He knows what he is doing, he will not be bothered by the transfer stuff.

"But if he is not 100% fit for a such a big game I will not pick him. It will be very disappointing but it will be too much of a risk."

He added: "There's Premiership players and players who play in the Premiership, and they are not always the same thing. I feel Gareth will become a very good Premiership player.

"He is a very good young player, at 18 the step up is very important for him and we are all delighted for him.

"We have seen a lot of young lads who progress and then stop and not make the impact expected, but Gareth - right from the outset when we first saw him - we all knew that he was very special.

"But you do not like to put too much pressure on youngsters, you have to be a bit guarded with your praise. But the 45 minutes he played against Brazil, ironically at Spurs, made a lot of people sit up and take notice, considering the quality of the opposition.

"We all just hope that he keeps progressing and realises the potential he has got.

"When I was his age I turned down a move to London at Fulham, I didn't think I was ready. Fortunately I waited a bit and got the dream move to Liverpool.

"Gareth has taken his time, he could have moved in the January window. But he has waited and now got the move he wants.

"He has had an outstanding season for Southampton, but at international level he has shown a maturity for one so young. We just hope everything goes okay for him."