Exclusive Adam Reach PNE column

Apparently he made the comparison after Saturday’s 2-1 win over Wolves at Molineux – a match which we both scored in.

I had not noticed the newspaper reports until it was pointed out to me.

I must say it’s a very nice comparison for somebody to make and if I can achieve anything close to what he’s achieved in his career, I will be a very proud man.

Bale is obviously a great player. I must admit he’s someone I look at and try to model myself on.

We are both of a similar stature and play in a similar sort of position on the pitch.

I will keep training and working hard and like I say, if I can get anywhere close during my career to what he’s been able to accomplish, I will be very proud of myself.

Saturday’s victory over Wolves was a terrific result for us and fully deserved. In many ways, it was the perfect away performance.

Personally, I was really pleased with the way I played and it was capped off by scoring the goal which turned out to be the winner.

Since arriving at Deepdale, the manager has used me in a variety of positions.

So far I have played left wing, left wing-back, as part of a front three and, most recently, on Saturday just behind lone striker Joe Garner in a roving No.10 role. It’s a position I also played away at Derby County a few weeks ago.

I’m happy to play anywhere, so if the manager needs me to play at left-back, I’m happy to help the team out.

The more positions you can play, the better because you have more chance of getting picked by the manager.

But I do see myself as more of an attacking player and the position I played at Molineux just behind Joe is a position which I feel comfortable in.

It’s a role which I think I can get better at and keep improving on, but I do think it highlights my strengths, which are getting on the ball, running at defenders and slipping balls in.

I think also it’s a position in which you can also contribute defensively, which I felt I did at Derby when we got a good 0-0 draw.

My appearance at Molineux at the weekend was the 22nd of my loan spell here at Preston since arriving from Middlesbrough in September.

I am starting to feel really at home. I have enjoyed myself since the moment I first walked through the door and I am getting really close to the lads.

We have been out together socially to the cinema and places like that, – there is a really good team spirit at the club.

The fans seem to have taken to me, which is also very nice and week-by-week I am enjoying it even more.

There are 15 games to go still and I am looking forward to helping Preston finish as high as we can.

I have been asked a few times what my plans are once this season is finished.

The honest answer is I don’t really have a take on it.

At the moment I am just concentrating on doing my best for Preston, but I am still contracted to Middlesbrough.

We will see what’s happening at Middlesbrough come the end of the season – a lot depends on what division they are in.

I will go back for pre-season training at Middlesbrough and I guess I will be a bit silly not to try to play for Boro –especially if they are in the Premier League.

I feel like I am good enough to play in that division one day. I trust myself to play there and I think I will play there one day.

Would I sign permanently for Preston? If the situation arises where I do need to move on and Preston are interested, then why not? I have enjoyed my time here, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

All my focus is on this weekend’s fixture against Sheffield Wednesday at Deepdale.

As far as we are concerned, I think the pressure is slightly off us now. We can’t become complacent, but I think the primary aim at the start of this season was to avoid relegation and I think we can be confident that we are not going to get into a scrap at the bottom.

We can now look ahead, rather than behind, and focus on trying to finish as high as we can.

This is the time when the teams at the top – like Wednesday – start feeling the pressure, so maybe we can be the ones who can slip under the radar.