KEVIN Davies is aiming to be back in the frame for Saturday’s derby duel with Manchester City.

The Wanderers captain, who has been sidelined for a fortnight with a knee injury, hopes to confirm his fitness this week and present himself for selection for the Etihad Stadium showdown with the Premier League leaders.

And, looking forward to his return, he is in typically bullish mood about Wanderers’ prospects for survival, confident that the mood in the camp is conducive to maintaining their top-flight status.

“The mood around the place is still great,” Davies said. “When we have been in trouble before, that has been what has got us out.

“It’s looking like three from five in the Premier League at the moment, so we need to start making sure we pick up points.

“We’ll have to work hard, we know that, and then hopefully that will be enough to turn it round.”

Davies’s latest injury setback was untimely to say the least, coming after he had forced his way back into Coyle’s starting 11 for the Reebok derby against Wigan, having been relegated to the subs’ bench for four games when the manager opted to use David Ngog in a lone striker role.

Wanderers lost the game 2-1 – a result that was a serious bodyblow to their hopes of pulling clear of the drop zone – with Davies lasting just 64 minutes before making way for Ivan Klasnic.

“I haven’t been injured for a while but it isn’t a major one,” he said, optimistically. “Hopefully, I’ll be back for City next weekend.

“It happened when I jumped early in the Wigan game and I landed awkwardly. I have been running since, so it should be okay now.”

Davies has been encouraged by the ease with which January signings Ryo Miyaichi, Tim Ream and Marvin Sordell have settled into the Reebok squad, but says that is testament to the team spirit in the Wanderers’ camp, which remains high, despite the pressures of the relegation battle.

“I have always thought it was an easy group to gel with,” he added.“New players tend to get accepted straight away.

“The new players who were brought in during January seem to have settled in and I’m sure they are ready to dig in now.”