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NEIL Lennon believes captaincy is bringing the best out of Mark Davies.
Though a surprise choice to wear the skipper’s armband when he picked up the duties from the injured Darren Pratley, Davies has been among Wanderers’ most consistent performers so far this season.
The midfielder’s statistics compare favourably with any of his peers in the Championship, even after what was considered an off-day at Huddersfield last weekend.
No player in the division has a better passing percentage than the 27-year-old, who has occupied a slightly deeper role in Neil Lennon’s side this season.
And the Wanderers boss feels his decision to give extra responsibility to one of his most publicity-shy players has enabled him to improve his all-round game.
“When I was weighing up who to make captain I looked at Mark, knew he’d been here the longest and felt I needed to test the water and see how he reacted to it,” he explained to The Bolton News.
“I’m happy with how it has gone. He’s really taken to it and I think it’s given him a new-found respect in the dressing room within the team. He is leading the team, not just with his words but with his actions as well.”
A fair few years have passed since Glenn Hoddle predicted Davies would be one of the biggest talents in the English game as he made his way through the ranks at Wolves.
Even at Bolton, where he has spent the last seven years, there is a sense that the enigmatic midfielder has not fulfilled his promise because of a continual battle against injuries.
But Lennon refuses to believe that Davies cannot raise his game further than the Championship and after striking an effective balance between training and recovery, is now able to call on his services more regularly than some of his predecessors.
“He’s 26-27 now, so he’s coming into the peak of his career,” he said. “He should be fresh because he hasn’t played a lot of football over the years. So there’s no reason why if, touch wood, he can stay injury free he can’t have a really good four or five years at it now.
“I think he’s absolutely flying at the moment. His statistics are right up there, his intensity is as high as Liam Feeney, who is always a player who gives us everything.
“Mark is in a very good place at the moment and we hope he stays there.
“His career has been blighted but it’s not his fault.
“He’s enjoying being captain and he’s had a run of games that he hasn’t had for a long, long time. He’s feeling good about himself and obviously that helps us.
“He knows what he has to do and he’s looking after himself a lot better. He’s lucky in terms of the fact he’s naturally fit and when you are doing any sort of running sessions he’s right up there.
“But we are managing how much he does, what he does, and getting that reward.”
Davies will have to be on his game this Saturday as Brighton come to town looking to go nine matches unbeaten.
Their main strength this season has been in midfield, where Bolton-born Dale Stephens and Lennon’s ex-Celtic charge Beram Kayal have enabled Hughton to play a more attacking 4-4-2 formation.
But the Seagulls boss has a few injury concerns heading to the Macron, with Uwe Huenemeier (hip), Sam Baldock (minor concussion) missing last weekend's 0-0 draw against Wolves, while star striker Tomer Hemed (tight hamstring) was substituted at half time.
“We’ve probably had the first period where we’ve picked up a few injuries,” Hughton said. “Thankfully for us they are not big injuries and we don’t expect them to be out for a period of time.
“But the season will test us, every game. We’ve got a really tough game at Bolton, irrespective of form.
"We want to try to keep players as fit as we can.
“Everybody will react. Rotherham were bottom coming to the Amex. Although I felt the scoreline should have been bigger, they lose 2-1 and then they go and win against Cardiff.
“There are no easy games and I don’t see Bolton being any different.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13780903.Davies_has_been_a_leader_in_the_pack__says_Wanderers_boss_Lennon/
Though a surprise choice to wear the skipper’s armband when he picked up the duties from the injured Darren Pratley, Davies has been among Wanderers’ most consistent performers so far this season.
The midfielder’s statistics compare favourably with any of his peers in the Championship, even after what was considered an off-day at Huddersfield last weekend.
No player in the division has a better passing percentage than the 27-year-old, who has occupied a slightly deeper role in Neil Lennon’s side this season.
And the Wanderers boss feels his decision to give extra responsibility to one of his most publicity-shy players has enabled him to improve his all-round game.
“When I was weighing up who to make captain I looked at Mark, knew he’d been here the longest and felt I needed to test the water and see how he reacted to it,” he explained to The Bolton News.
“I’m happy with how it has gone. He’s really taken to it and I think it’s given him a new-found respect in the dressing room within the team. He is leading the team, not just with his words but with his actions as well.”
A fair few years have passed since Glenn Hoddle predicted Davies would be one of the biggest talents in the English game as he made his way through the ranks at Wolves.
Even at Bolton, where he has spent the last seven years, there is a sense that the enigmatic midfielder has not fulfilled his promise because of a continual battle against injuries.
But Lennon refuses to believe that Davies cannot raise his game further than the Championship and after striking an effective balance between training and recovery, is now able to call on his services more regularly than some of his predecessors.
“He’s 26-27 now, so he’s coming into the peak of his career,” he said. “He should be fresh because he hasn’t played a lot of football over the years. So there’s no reason why if, touch wood, he can stay injury free he can’t have a really good four or five years at it now.
“I think he’s absolutely flying at the moment. His statistics are right up there, his intensity is as high as Liam Feeney, who is always a player who gives us everything.
“Mark is in a very good place at the moment and we hope he stays there.
“His career has been blighted but it’s not his fault.
“He’s enjoying being captain and he’s had a run of games that he hasn’t had for a long, long time. He’s feeling good about himself and obviously that helps us.
“He knows what he has to do and he’s looking after himself a lot better. He’s lucky in terms of the fact he’s naturally fit and when you are doing any sort of running sessions he’s right up there.
“But we are managing how much he does, what he does, and getting that reward.”
Davies will have to be on his game this Saturday as Brighton come to town looking to go nine matches unbeaten.
Their main strength this season has been in midfield, where Bolton-born Dale Stephens and Lennon’s ex-Celtic charge Beram Kayal have enabled Hughton to play a more attacking 4-4-2 formation.
But the Seagulls boss has a few injury concerns heading to the Macron, with Uwe Huenemeier (hip), Sam Baldock (minor concussion) missing last weekend's 0-0 draw against Wolves, while star striker Tomer Hemed (tight hamstring) was substituted at half time.
“We’ve probably had the first period where we’ve picked up a few injuries,” Hughton said. “Thankfully for us they are not big injuries and we don’t expect them to be out for a period of time.
“But the season will test us, every game. We’ve got a really tough game at Bolton, irrespective of form.
"We want to try to keep players as fit as we can.
“Everybody will react. Rotherham were bottom coming to the Amex. Although I felt the scoreline should have been bigger, they lose 2-1 and then they go and win against Cardiff.
“There are no easy games and I don’t see Bolton being any different.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13780903.Davies_has_been_a_leader_in_the_pack__says_Wanderers_boss_Lennon/