Dusan Tadic Serbia's answer to Gareth Bale, says Filip Kostic

By Claire Bloomfield

Image: Serbian and Southampton winger Dusan Tadic receives high praise from his team-mate ahead of Wales fixture

Southampton winger Dusan Tadic is Serbia's answer to Wales international Gareth Bale, claims team-mate Filip Kostic.

Chris Coleman's side host Serbia in a World Cup Qualifier in Cardiff on Saturday, and Kostic is confident Tadic can upstage Real Madrid star, Bale.

"[Gareth] Bale stands out in a solid Welsh team as the one player who can turn the game around by himself," Kostic told Serbian broadcaster Sport Klub.

"But we have our own match winner in Dusan Tadic," he said. "We've made a good start in the qualifiers and are confident that we can get a result in Cardiff."

Serbia sit top of a competitive Group D having taken seven points from three games and are ahead of the Republic of Ireland on goal difference.

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Image: Filip Kostic has provided support on the left flank throughout Serbia's World Cup Qualifying campaign

Third-place Wales have five points, with Austria closely behind on four after winning just one of their three qualifiers. 

Tadic has made a significant impact to Serbia's World Cup qualifying campaign so far, scoring three goals and setting up the other five.

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Kostic, 24, has supported his play from the opposite left flank and is looking forward to seeing their partnership flourish at the Cardiff City Stadium, as Serbia aim to reach their first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

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"Dusan and I work well together and I hope we have another productive evening against Wales," said Kostic.

"It doesn't matter who scores, I will always do what's best for the team."

Wales were humiliated 6-1 in Serbia in September 2012 - their heaviest defeat since 1996 - and dented their World Cup qualifying bid in the process. 

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