Home
Wanderers legend Kevin Davies is backing namesake Craig to realise his potential under new boss Neil Lennon.
The Davies double act was teamed up at Preston North End in the second half of last season when Craig was loaned out by previous Whites boss Dougie Freedman.
The pair did not start any of Craig's 16 appearances at Deepdale together but the man who spent a decade at Wanderers before joining North End in 2013 saw enough in training to know what his younger attacking colleague can do.
At one stage in the summer, it looked like the duo would be reunited with Craig Davies rumoured to be on the verge of a permanent move away from Wanderers.
But he started the season brightly and since Lennon's arrival, he has kicked on again.
So much so, that Davies believes the Whites faithful could see the best of the former Barnsley forward this season.
Speaking exclusively to The Bolton News, Kevin Davies said: "Craig came in at Preston last year and did okay for us.
"He is one of those players who has got all the attributes you would want in a striker.
"He is strong and powerful and can score goals.
"He just needs a consistent run in the side.
"I think the new manager at Bolton has been good for him.
"Clearly he wasn’t wanted by the previous manager I think it is fair to say.
"He has kind of got a new lease of life and that is what you are seeing with him now.
"I was at the Wigan game covering it for the BBC and he worked hard and got his goal.
"I think he is getting his fitness up and if he stays fit, he could be a big player for Bolton and can help get them away from the trouble they are in at the moment."
Some Wanderers fans have likened Craig Davies bustling style to that of the man who led the line with distinction for 10 years in the white shirt.
Kevin Davies prefers not to make comparisons, however, but does think Craig Davies can only get better given a run in the side.
He feels the 28-year-old will take to the management style of Lennon, believing he is the type of player who needs to feel wanted to get the very best out of him.
The early signs ring true with Craig Davies a standout performer in back-to-back home wins against Cardiff and Wigan – the second of those matches seeing him net his second goal in four games.
Kevin Davies added: "I don’t really like comparing myself to others – everyone's game is different.
"I think he is one of those players who needs to feel wanted.
"I know when he was at Barnsley under David Flitcroft he enjoyed his time there.
"He is one of those players if the manager puts an arm around him, you can get the best from him.
"He clearly thrives on that management style and he will probably get that under Neil Lennon.
"The strikers are sharing the load a little bit at Bolton at the minute.
"If he can take his chance, he will do all right."
For the more experienced Davies, who was back at the Macron Stadium this week signing copies of the new book 'Who Put The Ball in The Munich Net?' about Wanderers' glory days in Europe, it is all about enjoying the game at Preston.
'Davo' is in his second year at Deepdale and admits the move has proved a good one after his sour exit from Wanderers.
He said: "The club has been great to me.
"It was exactly what I needed after the way it ended at Bolton for me.
"They chased me all summer and I felt really wanted by them which is what I needed.
"It is another big club – not too dissimilar to Bolton in terms of history and the support we get home and away.
"I am happy to still be playing for another great club."
Source
The Davies double act was teamed up at Preston North End in the second half of last season when Craig was loaned out by previous Whites boss Dougie Freedman.
The pair did not start any of Craig's 16 appearances at Deepdale together but the man who spent a decade at Wanderers before joining North End in 2013 saw enough in training to know what his younger attacking colleague can do.
At one stage in the summer, it looked like the duo would be reunited with Craig Davies rumoured to be on the verge of a permanent move away from Wanderers.
But he started the season brightly and since Lennon's arrival, he has kicked on again.
So much so, that Davies believes the Whites faithful could see the best of the former Barnsley forward this season.
Speaking exclusively to The Bolton News, Kevin Davies said: "Craig came in at Preston last year and did okay for us.
"He is one of those players who has got all the attributes you would want in a striker.
"He is strong and powerful and can score goals.
"He just needs a consistent run in the side.
"I think the new manager at Bolton has been good for him.
"Clearly he wasn’t wanted by the previous manager I think it is fair to say.
"He has kind of got a new lease of life and that is what you are seeing with him now.
"I was at the Wigan game covering it for the BBC and he worked hard and got his goal.
"I think he is getting his fitness up and if he stays fit, he could be a big player for Bolton and can help get them away from the trouble they are in at the moment."
Some Wanderers fans have likened Craig Davies bustling style to that of the man who led the line with distinction for 10 years in the white shirt.
Kevin Davies prefers not to make comparisons, however, but does think Craig Davies can only get better given a run in the side.
He feels the 28-year-old will take to the management style of Lennon, believing he is the type of player who needs to feel wanted to get the very best out of him.
The early signs ring true with Craig Davies a standout performer in back-to-back home wins against Cardiff and Wigan – the second of those matches seeing him net his second goal in four games.
Kevin Davies added: "I don’t really like comparing myself to others – everyone's game is different.
"I think he is one of those players who needs to feel wanted.
"I know when he was at Barnsley under David Flitcroft he enjoyed his time there.
"He is one of those players if the manager puts an arm around him, you can get the best from him.
"He clearly thrives on that management style and he will probably get that under Neil Lennon.
"The strikers are sharing the load a little bit at Bolton at the minute.
"If he can take his chance, he will do all right."
For the more experienced Davies, who was back at the Macron Stadium this week signing copies of the new book 'Who Put The Ball in The Munich Net?' about Wanderers' glory days in Europe, it is all about enjoying the game at Preston.
'Davo' is in his second year at Deepdale and admits the move has proved a good one after his sour exit from Wanderers.
He said: "The club has been great to me.
"It was exactly what I needed after the way it ended at Bolton for me.
"They chased me all summer and I felt really wanted by them which is what I needed.
"It is another big club – not too dissimilar to Bolton in terms of history and the support we get home and away.
"I am happy to still be playing for another great club."
Source