Louis Saha has paid a glowing tribute to former Bristol Rovers star Barry Hayles.
Hayles was plucked from non-league football by the Gas in 1997 after a free-scoring period at Stevenage Borough and netted 23 goals to top the Division Two scoring chart as Rovers were knocked out in the play-off semi-finals.
A bright start to his second season at Rovers saw him earn a £2m move to Fulham, but his 32 goals in 62 appearances for Rovers made him a firm favourite among many a Gashead.
Hayles went on to play for the Cottagers for six seasons and, for four of those, he played alongside a young Louis Saha.
In 2004 Saha bagged a £12.4m move to Manchester United and went on to win the Premier League twice alongside the Champions League, but he revealed in this month's Four Four Two magazine that he still has a special affection for Hayles.
Saha, who also played for the likes of Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, was asked by a Fulham fan 'Why was Barry Hayles so much better than Ruud van Nistelrooy?'
It prompted this response: "No, I'm not laughing!
"I really enjoyed my partnership with Barry at Fulham. He was always in the right spot.
"I remember a period of maybe a month where I almost scored a goal but, every time, he was on the end of it before me. I just couldn't understand it!
"He was so clever, a proper striker. I was more of a forward, who'd play down the wings sometimes, but he was a proper striker.
"Then I had the chance to play with the master inside the penalty area, because Ruud van Nistelrooy is the best I ever saw at that."
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