KEVIN Davies hopes his Wanderers testimonial could be staged next year – perhaps as a curtain raiser to the new season at the Reebok.

The ex-England striker, who signed for Preston North End yesterday, has been granted a benefit game by the Whites after a decade of service.

Talks have been shelved in the last few weeks as Davies made a decision on his next club, but the 36-year-old hopes the match will involve some of his famous Wanderers team-mates from down the years.

“I can’t really affect the date – that is something the club will have to decide on, depending on how they set out their pre-season,” he said.

“But I’d like to think I could organise something for the big game before the season starts.

“It has been on the back burner while I got myself sorted.

“It has been granted and I’ve had few emails back and forth with Phil Gartside but over the last few weeks I have just wanted to get my head down and get a club.

“Now that I have done that I’ll definitely speak with Phil.”

Davies has already had interest in his testimonial from some well-known Wanderers names of the past. “I’ve mentioned before that I’d like to get some of the old boys back and it would be nice if that could happen next year,” he said.

“I know Ivan Campo and Stelios would like to do something – and there have been some fantastic players down the years who maybe didn’t get a send off or a chance to say goodbye to the supporters.

“It would be good to get them involved.”