OWEN Coyle is willing to dig his heels in to keep Kevin Davies at the Reebok.

The Wanderers boss reiterated that he does not want to lose the club skipper this month amid heavy interest from Premier League rivals Sunderland, Wolves and West Brom.

Davies is out of contract in the summer and has been out of the first team picture since before Christmas. But after holding talks with the 34-year-old this week, Coyle has assured the striker he is still part of his plans.

And he has denied receiving any approaches in the current window.

“It’s only talk and it can come from a number of sources,” he said. “The bottom line is that I’ve not had anybody coming on and making mean offer for Kevin Davies.

“I’ve spoken to him and he knows he’s a part of this club.

“I understand because of the career Kevin has had and the position he’s in at this club, as the captain, that when players of that ilk are out of a team in the transfer window then there’s a story to be written.

“But Kevin will be the first to tell you when he was in that run of form that he could have played better. If he had, he wouldn’t be out of the team.

“He showed in the last couple of weeks that he’s up for the fight and he wants to get back in the team, and that’s great for me. That’s the type of player I want at the club.”