NEIL Lennon reckons Wanderers fans are starting to see the best of Mark Davies once again – but admits others in his squad are playing catch-up.

The Whites boss has taken a fresh approach with Davies this season, which has involved reducing his training workload. His methods appear to be working, with the midfielder recently stringing together five consecutive starts for the first time in three seasons.

But as Lennon gears up for a return to Championship action against Davies's former club Wolves on this weekend, he is demanding a step up in performance levels from some of the other members of his side, which has failed to hit the target in five of their last six games in league and cup.

“Mark Davies has been outstanding,” he told The Bolton News. “Right at this minute I think he’s one of the best players in this division.

“But I need something extra from a few of the others. There isn’t enough conviction going forward at the moment, or the quality in our finishing, and that’s something we need to remedy quickly.

“Others need to raise their game a little bit.”

Davies – now the longest-serving senior player on the books – has seen his Wanderers career flecked with injury problems, particularly in his knees.

But Lennon appears willing to treat him as a special case, and by reducing the strain during the week in training he has finally been able to get the 27-year-old playing Saturday-Tuesday on a regular basis.

The last time Davies put five starts together was November 2012, after which he sustained a nasty shoulder injury in a game against Huddersfield Town.

But after featuring in much of the club’s pre-season schedule, the diminutive midfielder is now getting towards his top form, in Lennon’s opinion.

“Sparky s had a good pre-season, although we have to be mindful of his knee,” he explained. “There are days when he can’t train, so we are careful with him.

“Naturally he’s a fit boy but his football at the minute is so sharp. His first touch is beautiful.

“He was a real driving force against Blackburn Rovers. He’s only a little fella but he was so strong and even though the ball was up in the air all the time, he was in there for us.

“He’s playing very well at the moment but I need more from other players, particularly in an attacking sense.

“Zach Clough, Gary Madine, Wellington Silva – they all need to raise what they did against Blackburn because we are creating chances, getting the ball in good positions but not making it count.”