IRON-MAN Kevin Davies has not got a clue if his midweek derby strike will earn him a chance to upset his golf pal Mick McCarthy tomorrow.

With squad rotation now par for the course at the Reebok, the battle-hardened skipper concedes his sixth goal of the season might not be enough to see him keep his place in the team against Ipswich Town.

It is a new philosophy and one the 35-year-old is still getting his head round after spending years as an automatic first choice in the Whites front line.

But as long as the club stays on the fairway, you will not find Davies complaining – at least outside the walls of the manager’s office.

He told The Bolton News: “I was disappointed not to start against Barnsley on Saturday but, as I’ve said before, there was no sulking!

“I went to see the manager about it on Monday morning and we had a good chat.

“I’m fine with that, I know the way he’s thinking, and that’s all I need.

“I stress I want to play in every game I can but he wants to play who he feels is best and that’s his choice.

“We all have to get used to it. I’ll want to play against Ipswich and then the one after that, but if I don’t, I’ll do my bit. It’s all about the team and that’s always been the case.”

Davies’s gain at Ewood Park was David Ngog’s loss, and the captain empathised with the Frenchman who had scored a vital equaliser at Brighton last weekend.

“No-one is hiding and we’ve got competition throughout the squad,” he said.

“David scored a late one at Brighton, which was fantastic and kept the run going, and I’m sure he was disappointed not to play against Blackburn as I was against Barnsley. But that's the way it is.

“You accept it as a team that when you are called upon you do your bit.”

A 6-0 thumping against Leicester is Ipswich’s only defeat in their last four games, and Davies is not surprised to see McCarthy, pictured, winning his battle to keep the Suffolk men out of the rough.

“I had a week in Barbados over the summer and we spent quite a bit of time on and off the golf course – I enjoy his company, he’s a great guy,” said the striker of the man who tried to sign him in January while in charge at Wolves.

“I’m pleased to see him doing well but it’s down to business on Saturday. We need to be winning these kind of games at home. We’re playing catch-up.

“I’m sure there will be a couple of texts. Football needs characters like him; he’s got a great sense of humour, and it’s good to see him doing well.

“It’s no surprise to me that they are out of trouble a few games after he’s taken over. He knows he’s got a tough job on and I wish him well, just not this weekend.”