Reebok star could be another Gazza
6:10pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Latest By Marc Iles
OWEN Coyle is not worried about heaping a star billing on the shoulders of his in-form midfielder Mark Davies.
It is two years since the young playmaker wowed his new manager with a stellar performance against Arsenal at the Emirates, ended cruelly and prematurely by a horror tackle from William Gallas that should have warranted a red card.
Davies prepares to lay into the Gunners again tonight showing perhaps for the first time in his Wanderers career the kind of consistency and goal threat his precocious talent on the ball deserves.
Given his current momentum, Coyle reckons there is no telling how far the 24-year-old could go – comparing his bustling running style to the great Paul Gascoigne.
And he fully expects that in a year’s time he will be fighting off the top clubs to keep hold of the former Wolves trainee.
“That sort of midfield player is a rare commodity,” he said. “We all recognise there are terrific midfielders out there who hold the ball and move it from side to side and everything else. The thing about Mark Davies when he is at the top of his game – and he has to bring that level of consistency on into his game as he has started to do – is that he is so different.
“He drives forward and takes people on. The best example of that for me in an English midfielder was Paul Gascoigne. I loved watching him driving forward with the ball and taking players on.
“Mark has got a long way to go to get to that level but he has quick feet and is scoring a goal now and then – getting an end product to his play.
“He is quick, has tremendous fitness levels and I believe if we continue to develop him and improve his consistency I believe he will be good enough to play for anybody in six months or a year’s time. That is my belief in Mark Davies.”
After finally cementing a place in the starting line-up, and perhaps more importantly, his preferred role behind the main striker, Davies is undoubtedly in the best run of form since he signed from Wolves in January 2009 for £1million.
It seemed at one point as if persistent ankle injuries could prevent the Midlander from ever realising his potential, but since Coyle’s arrival, it has more been a case of a lack of consistency obstructing his progress.
Davies looked condemned to be classed as an impact player but Coyle believes there has been something of a change in the youngster’s attitude in recent months.
“I have spoken to him extensively because he has to make sure that everything he does in football is with a mind to being the best he can be,” he said.
“But there is no doubt he has a huge career in football ahead of him if he brings that level of consistency.”
Coyle reckons some of the best business done by the club over the last 12 months has been to tie down the likes of Davies, Adam Bogdan and Fabrice Muamba to extended deals.
And while there has undoubtedly been frustration about the lack of signings in January, the Wanderers boss takes some solace from the fact he is in a strong position if one of the big clubs comes knocking.
“My worry would be if I did not have my young players on long-term contracts,” he said. “We have addressed our younger players and they are all committed to the club for a serious amount of time.
“But I don’t ever worry about elite clubs coming and wanting to entice our young players away because that means they are doing very well for us and we are reaping the rewards of that.
“I want my players to play at that level so there are buyers in the market place. And, as I say, in six months time Mark will be capable of stepping into those elite clubs.
“But to do that, he needs to be consistent between now and the end of the season. If he does that, he will attract attention because that type of player is difficult to come by.”
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