Simon Davies has challenged his Fulham team-mates to replicate last season’s fine finish and push on into the top half of the Premier League table.
The Welsh midfielder admits that the Whites have failed to find their best form during this campaign, which has been disrupted by injuries and an early start to the campaign caused by their participation in the Europa League. Confidence was dented by Fulham’s early exit from that competition but Davies, now restored to full fitness after his own injury problems, believes Martin Jol’s side can power their way up the table as Fulham’s next few fixtures are winnable.
The 32 year-old revealed that Jol has told his players to target victories in a forthcoming run of games against QPR, Wolves, Aston Villa and Swansea.
The manager did point it out to us that going into these games on the back of a win [over Stoke last weekend] would give us that little bit of extra confidence. We want to really push on and get into the top half of the table with another couple of good results.
We all obviously know it’ll be very hard still because they’re all fighting for survival down the bottom there but they’re games that we have got to be looking to go and take the initiative in. We’re obviously above them [QPR, Wolves and Aston Villa] in the table on merit so we’ve got to go and impose ourselves in those games.
Davies is taking the positive view of Fulham’s week-long break – caused by their FA Cup exit at the hands of his old club, Everton.
I think it’s always good to get a break. Not just for me but the lads coming off the back of the European games as well – they’ve had such a tough six months. We’ve trained well this week but we’ll have a couple of days off now and hopefully recharge the batteries and finish the season strongly on the back of it.
He is happy to be back involved in first time action after an injury-ravaged past eighteen months saw him written off by many. Davies has clocked up 210 minutes in Fulham’s last three games and is certainly feeling sharper as a result.
Playing games is all part of the building process. You get stronger and stronger the fitter you stay. Those minutes on the pitch will definitely help me and I felt stronger again this week so I’m just trying to get as fit as possible so that if I’m called upon I can do the best I can.
