Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Tuesday November 21 2006
Time: 12:16PM
UK time is: 21:52:26
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Steven Davis Feeling Closer To Form
Steven Davis, who scored for the reserves last night against Spurs, says he isn't far from re-gaining the form that saw him as an automatic choice last season.
The Northern Ireland international said after the run out last night: 'Obviously it was good to get a goal, it's always good to score at any level. Hopefully this can drive me on to better things for the first-team. I felt I was getting back to my best when I came on as a substitute at Wigan and hopefully that can be the start of better things for me.'
'I was happy to play for the reserves. As Kevin MacDonald always reminds me, this is where I came up through the ranks and the run-out did me good. It's not going to be easy getting into the team, because we're doing so well. But every player wants to be part of a team that's at the right end of the table and I'm no different. I know things haven't gone as well as I would have liked at the start of this season, but I'm determined to get back to the form I showed last season.'
Martin O'Neill added 'I have watched the games from last season and I think there could be a number of reasons for what has happened. Steve is a young lad and he is basically learning the game. Sometimes when you step into a side that is not playing at its best, you've got no fear. You've gone in there and are playing pretty well and have plenty of confidence about yourself. Then you become more established in the side and, ironically, the wee things that didn't concern you before now concern you and that's all part of the process and of him coming to grips with it.'
He also says although the midfielder hasn't reached the heights of last season he is still young and can get back there.
'I have spoken to him. He is a very quiet lad and just that sparkle he had last season hasn't returned yet but I've no doubt when he gets to grips with it all that it will do so.'
Still a top prospect, this is the trouble with not having strength in depth though I guess, it means sometimes when a player is out of form he can't be totally rested as we've no other options. Last season he was being linked to Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson was impressed with his combatative style and ability to score.
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Your Comments
everyone expects too much too soon I reckon, with some quality around them, the youth will come on leaps and bounds.
The Fear
Davis plays a lot of intelligent balls but we don't have strikers who on on the same wavelength. I think he is paying the price for his blunder against Chelsea. Too right too, it's about time we had a squad where players feared the axe if they had a mare.
DeanoVilla
maybe we should send him off on loan
Christo
Davis is a classy young player who has played more first team games, than he should have done in all honesty. MON will get him back to his best and a rejuvinated Davis will be an asset to the club.
fatloser
his best position is centre mid. with petrov and mccann the preferred option he hasn't been able to play the role he did last year. i do not think it is coincidence that villas best 20 minutes on sunday was when davis went in the middle, barry out to the left and gabi down the middle.
utv-sotc
He'll be back stronger than ever. Sometimes we forget that the youngsters are still learning their trade. They'll experience dips in form, have bad days, poor games, its all part of the learning process. It'll happen to Gabby, sure as night follows day, then we'll have some supporters writing him off.
glensider
I agree utv-sotc; Davis did well when he came on last Sunday. With the right nurturing, this kid will develop into a great player I'm sure. There's no disgrace in being on the bench at his age. It will do him alot of good and take the pressure off him.
Beovilla
Sorry guys Talk is cheap. Performance is all that counts. Before anyone starts to moan at my comments just think how many times have you all slatted Juan Pablo Angel for stating the same as Davis?
still skeggy
utv-sotc i agree too he has been played out of position he's a good player but i don't think he is that versatile, play him down the middle then he will be back to the standard he showed last season.
chris the villan
Davis has bags of potential, i hoping he can be our Fabregas! He just needs fill out more as the premierhsip is all about pace and power nawadays. He has great vision but often loses the ball in silly positions adding pressure on the team. He can only get better with time, the rest out of the squad may do him good
son_of_cher
If Petrov is unavailable on Saturday I can see McCann and Davis down the middle. I can also see Baros replacing Angel.
Gazvilla
Steve was due a period of marking time, but under MON's guidance and tuition he'll definitely have a big part to play at VP, hopefully for seasons to come.
glensider
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