CRAIG Davies can play his part in Wanderers’ crucial last five games, according to team-mate Sam Ricketts.

The 27-year-old has started just three of 13 matches since his January transfer from Barnsley.

But two goals in that time – against Burnley and Nottingham Forest in successive games – have secured three extra points for the team.

It’s an impact that Ricketts believes is befitting of his fellow Wales international.

And while his recent appearances have been restricted to cameo roles from the bench, Davies has been involved in 13 of the last 14 Championship outings.

The only one he sat out was enforced against Huddersfield last Tuesday when both he and Ricketts served one-match suspensions following their dismissals at Charlton.

Ricketts retains his belief Davies can only improve as time goes by and he settles into the Wanderers squad.

He said: “As a defender, I wouldn’t be keen to play against Craig.

“He is strong and he is not too slow either.

“He is not a pleasant player to play against.”

Ricketts is not only confident of Davies’ impact at the Reebok, he also feels he can play a part for his country despite his omission from national manager Chris Coleman’s recent squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Croatia.

Davies is one of only four people to have scored a hat-trick for the Wales Under-21 team – a feat which fast-tracked his promotion to the senior ranks, where he has since won only six caps.

But Ricketts is sure regular action for Wanderers will lead to a recall, saying: “I’d be surprised if he didn’t (get into the Welsh squad).

“He’s been in and out of the squad over the years. But if he plays well for us, there is no doubt he will be in future squads.”