Davies will grab his chance, says boss

Oct 31 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O'Neill today backed Curtis Davies to make a roaring success of his career at Villa.

The former Albion skipper has been sidelined for all but one outing in the Carling Cup in his nine weeks at the club.

That appearance proved disastrous both personally and for the team against Leicester.

But O'Neill admits he has produced two impressive performances for the reserves to put that nightmare behind him.

And at a time when Zat Knight's confidence appears shaky following his major lapses against Manchester United, O'Neill is already tipping Davies to grab his chance Ð when it arrives.

"He is doing very well," said O'Neill. "In the last couple of reserve games he has done excellently, I just didn't change the back four at Bolton.

"But not only will his time come, I expect that when it does come he will grab it in a big way and make me have to make some big decisions."

O'Neill says Davies has put the horror show against Leicester, which saw the defender describe himself as a pub player, behind him.

"He is getting the hang of the whole thing Ð I am not saying that he didn't before Ð what I am saying is that I think he has recovered from the debacle against Leicester and I expect him to come roaring back soon."

f=XZapfDingbatsno CURTIS DAVIES.