MARK Davies must perform against Rotherham United or risk getting the silent treatment from his dad.

Steve Walford has revealed that the midfielder got the cold shoulder after his below-par performance against Leeds United in the FA Cup last weekend.

But after picking up against his former club Wolves in midweek on his return to Molineux, acting captain Davies has now asked his dad along again for today’s must-win encounter at the Macron.

“We knew Sparky going back to Wolves would bring a bit out of him – but when his dad is watching him he has to play well, or otherwise he won’t speak to him,” explained the Bolton assistant boss.

“We’ve told him he has to come every game now.

“He watched against Leeds in the cup and apparently his dad refused to talk to him for a couple of days. If that’s what works – we’ll take it.”

Davies is one of the players Neil Lennon is looking towards for leadership after an inconsistent season.

But Walford thinks the former Premier League man needs to remember why he was brought to the top flight in the first place.

“He’s another player who thrives on confidence,” he said. “If he has done well, he’ll improve the next game, but then when he has a bad one it can take him a bit to respond.

“It is hard for all of the players with the situation we’re in. They need that belief and players like Sparky need to remember they are good players – one of our main threats – and he needs to know we rely on him.

“He needs to remember what a lot of ability he has got.”