Given recent events, it’s a piece that makes one feel for the man. The discussion of fitness is sad given his subsequent fortunes – just 49 appearances for the Villans since joining them on loan prior to a permanent deal in 2007 – although his respect for the PFA will have stood him in solid stead. He’s also not the worst ex-Luton and West Bromwich Albion central defender currently in circulation.
But Davies certainly looked the part a few years back. He was the brightest performer of all in West Brom’s relegation season of 2005-6, a cruel demotion illustrative of a first bout of Pompey megaspending. But then, there was a messy divorce from the Hawthorns and two failed transfer requests: severely provoking ire from Baggies’ fans.
Early days at the Villa were good, even if he insulted pub team players everywhere after his maiden start, and Zat Knight was relegated to the benches (as he jolly well ought to have been). But, a joint one would expect to be less commonly afflicted by football injury – the shoulder – continued to prove troublesomely problematical and the recruitment of James Collins and Richard Dunne shifted Becks’ fellow Leyonstonian down the claret and blue pecking order.
Now he’s at Leicester, hoping to rekindle the attention of Fabio. If joining the ranks of Football League England stars is unlikely for now, he must be a candidate for the English version of TheSeventyTwo‘s Red Rose Select XI.