Townsend comparisons to Bale unfair, says AVB

Former Leeds United loanee Townsend, the recent hero of England’s World Cup qualification, shone again with an inspirational goalscoring performance in a 2-0 win for Spurs at Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old, rewarded with a new contract last week, opened the scoring – albeit with a cross-cum-shot – in the 31st minute and tormented Villa thereafter in a rampant display.

Spurs sold Bale to Real Madrid in a world-record £86m deal in August, and despite them spending more than £100m on new players, former trainee Townsend has looked equally likely to fill the void.

Villas-Boas said: “It is early beginnings for Andros with his life at the club.

“Gareth’s influence grew to be immense in the last season. It is early days for Andros.

“But I think it was a great performance. Alongside the team, it grew in the second half, and he really improved his performance.

“He gives us so many attacking options because he is able to take the team forward with his driving ability and link-up play, crossing, assisting.

“It was another great performance, like we saw for his country. It was great to see.”

Townsend’s performances in this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland have seen his profile soar.

Villas-Boas said: “He has to cope with the amount of attention he gets but he is very grounded and down to earth.

“I don’t suppose he will have any problems. Before he went to England his confidence was high.

“What he has been doing for Spurs he did for England and now he is continuing for his club.”

Townsend spent the second half of last season on loan at QPR, one of nine such temporary moves in his career.

Villas-Boas said: “I think the loan really worked for him. He came with the right frame of mind to grab the opportunity.”

Spurs completed victory with a second goal from Roberto Soldado in the 69th minute.