Real Madrid star and former Saint Gareth Bale is back in contention after injury and could return to torment a fellow ex-St Mary’s player tonight.

Bale, who played 45 times for Saints between 2005 and 2007 and is the world’s most expensive player, has been ruled out for the past five matches with a buttock muscle injury.

But the 25-year-old, below, could return to tonight as Real face Liverpool and former Southampton men Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren in a Champions League Group B showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu (7.45).

Bale – one of the most fearsome attackers on the planet – is sure to prove a handful for centre-back Lovren, who has failed to impress since his £20million move to Merseyside in the summer, and his team-mates.

To top that, the Croatian will have to deal with a plethora of international superstars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and many more.

Without the services of Bale, who has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, the Spanish giants cruised to victory 3-0 at Anfield last month.