BATTERING ram Craig Davies has been challenged to take the fight to his former club Wolves tomorrow.

While Joe Mason grabbed the limelight with his midweek hat-trick against Rotherham United, it was the burly Wales international who was widely praised for getting through another mountain of spade-work.

Neil Danns was leading the words of appreciation for the striker, who has followed Tim Ream and Matt Mills’ example of last season by coming in from the fringes of the squad to earn a regular place under Dougie Freedman.

“He is such a handful on his day,” the midfielder said. “Joe owes Craig a bit of that limelight because he worked so hard and allowed Joe to get into those spaces and get the ball in the back of the net.

“Craig’s attributes are there for all to see. When he is playing like that it makes a lot easier for the rest of the team.

“He has kept his attitude brilliantly and worked hard to get back in the team and now he is reaping the rewards and the plaudits for his hard work.

“There is no one more pleased for him than me. He is a great lad off the field as well.”

Davies spent a season on loan with Wolves in 2006 after a short spell in Italian football with Verona.

It didn’t prove particularly successful on the goal-front, with just two in 26 appearances in league and cup, but paved the way for a good run in the lower leagues with the likes of Oldham Athletic and Chesterfield.

Davies has failed to nail-down a first team place since his arrival from Barnsley last year and spent the latter half of last season on loan at Preston North End.

But since returning in rude form in the summer, the powerful 28-year-old has seen his stock rise sharply despite the club’s poor start.

Danns, like most in the Wanderers camp, is hoping that the win over Rotherham will signal a change in results.

With the spectre of last season’s 10-game winless run now banished, Danns admits the players should feel more relaxed at Molineux.

"We just needed to get that win out of the way because it has been hanging over us. Thankfully, we have got it and now we can move on,” he said.

“The difference in the changing room is there for all to see. We can't wait until Saturday. We have got that monkey off our backs and we can kick on for the rest of the season.

“We know when we are buzzing we can create chances and we can keep the ball. I am sure we can be more than a match for any team.

“Even when we played Notts Forest, we didn't feel any different to them. We have been disappointed with the start but we know what we have got in our locker.”

Tuesday’s win could also buy some valuable breathing room for another Wolves old boy, Freedman, whose position as manager had been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks.

Danns was pleased to see that fans – despite their differences with the Scot – have continued to back the team.

And the experienced midfielder believes it is now the responsibility of the players to ease that pressure further by moving up the Championship table.

“We are 100 percent behind the gaffer,” he said. “We know what he is trying to do. Sometimes it doesn't always come off even for top managers in the Premier League.

“But the cream always rises and hopefully that's the case here. We are all backing him and are 100 percent committed to the club, the team and the gaffer.

“As long as the supporters keeping backing us and everyone keeps backing us because we are all in this together. I am just delighted for everyone connected with the club we finally started our season.

“When fans get restless it starts making players try passes that maybe they shouldn't. But I thought on Tuesday that the fans kept behind us and we kept playing football. Even when we went 1-0 I was still pretty confident we were going to get the result.”