I might be biased of course, as I’ve always been a fan of our mercurial Welshman, but I thought Simon Davies looked good on Monday night. The midfielder, missing since a loose piece of bone disrupted his return from a foot problem, made two of Fulham’s goals against Chelsea reserves at Griffin Park the other night and lasted the full ninety minutes.
It’s good to get 90 minutes under my belt. It was exactly what I needed. Now I’ve got a couple of hard weeks’ training to come and hopefully I’ll be involved in the squad for the Birmingham game. I’m still not totally fit but I’ve got total confidence that my injury is improving after every training session.
Whereas before it was getting a bit sore or worsening every day, that’s not happening this time so if I can get through the next two weeks I’ll be able to overcome that hurdle.
Before I was thinking ‘how’s it going to feel today?’ It was constantly on my mind. But I never got to a level where I’d feel fit enough and happy enough to compete. But this time it’s been totally different, especially since last week, I’ve been able to push it and now I hope to keep climbing and it will just be a matter of trying to get back into the Team and getting my match fitness up.
Originally, after the operation, I was supposed to start running after four to five weeks. But I was back in training after four or five weeks having started running after three. So it was pleasing to be ahead of schedule and it also shows that having the operation was the right way to go.
Davies is under no illusions that he’ll walk back into the first team. With Damien Duff settling nicely into life at the Cottage, Clint Dempsey showing signs of the form that made him such a standout performer last season and Zoltan Gera much improved from last year’s travails, getting back into a side enjoying a good league run is easier said than done.
I’m not expecting to go straight back into th First Team and I know that I’m going to have to bide my time and get as fit as possible. I know that it’s going to take games to get to that next level of fitness – and if that means more Reserve games – that’s what I’ll do.
The frenzied nature of Fulham’s fixture list means Davies should get some game time, though.
I’ve got no worries that I’ll hopefully play my part. With the amount of games we’ve got coming up, plus the European games, there’s always going to be injuries and suspensions so I’m sure everyone in the squad is going to have to play their part – I’m no different and you’ve just got to be ready when that time comes.
It’ll certainly be good to have him back.
