Curtis Davies will bounce back - Craig Gardner

Mar 5 2008 By Bill Howell

CRAIG Gardner insists Curtis Davies will not become the forgotten man of Villa Park and says the defender's strength of character will see him bounce back an even stronger player from his ruptured Achilles.

Gardner missed three months of last season and feared for his career after limping off against Chelsea in January 2007 with a groin problem.

It was only when he returned to action that the club's physios told him it had potentially been a career-threatening problem and was a very rare injury where the tendons had come away from the muscle.

"It was a big setback when I was sidelined and it was like starting all over again. I just battled and battled," recalls Gardner, who has had his fair share of setbacks having injured knee ligaments on his full debut against Newcastle in February 2006, which put him on the sidelines for a month. He says Villa's players are all behind Davies.

"Curtis is absolutely gutted and I understand why but he'll come through this," Gardner said. "He has the sense of humour and the right character to get over this and come back an even stronger player.

"Curtis won't be forgotten about just because he's injured. Aston Villa are such a close unit now and we're all in it for each other.

"We might not be as showy about it as some teams - you see Chelsea and Arsenal hugging each other and I think that's a bit over the top, to be honest.

"But inside the dressing room and out there on the pitch we're there for each other any day of the week. I think that's what the gaffer has instilled in us.

"I'll be there for him, Martin Laursen will be there for him and a lot of the others will support him.

"I've been through the same injury process and I know how hard it is. But if he keeps his head up and we keep him involved, he'll be back before we know it."

Gardner says Villa will be going all-out to try to overtake Everton and Liverpool and dedicate the final Champions League spot to Davies.

"The best way to cheer Curtis up is by getting into Europe, so he has something big to aim for next season," he said. "We want to finish fourth. Let's see if we can do it."