Source: Team_Talk
Curtis: I'm a huge Ferdinand fan
Davies has always been a massive fan of the Manchester United star and is keen to make the same sort of impact in the game as the 30-year-old.
But his immediate priority is to help Villa try to put their European bid back on track by beating Everton in Sunday's home Premier League clash.
Martin O'Neill's side are currently one point ahead of the Merseysiders in fifth spot but have gone nine games without a win in all competitions.
Davies said: "I'd like to be as good as Rio. I'm a big fan of his and I think he's the best, or one of the best, defenders in the world.
"He can do a bit of everything in the game. He doesn't mess about with the ball. When he needs to clear it, he'll do that.
"But, at the same time, he's got such good feet. He can come out with the ball, head it, do whatever he wants to do.
"If you look at Rio, he could play for another 10 years if he wanted to with the way he plays.
"For me to get anywhere near him ability-wise would be a big thing - and hopefully that would push me on to getting close to playing alongside him in an England shirt."
Davies admitted: "Whether it's alongside Rio or alongside anyone, I'd obviously love to play for England. That is my ambition.
"I've been on the substitutes' bench against Germany at the end of last year. It's time now that I start stepping up and trying to push myself back in there."
Davies is adamant Villa are still in contention for a Champions League spot despite slipping six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal after last weekend's 3-2 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
He said: "We just have to keep going. Whether you're confident or not, you need to keep going because we're not ready to throw this away.
"And, as long as we're in touching distance, we believe we can do it and get into the Champions League.
"We've had a not ideal run of results but it's about picking yourself up for the next game because, if you keep your head down, we might as well pack our bags and go home now.
"We're still in the fight for that fourth place but, if we're not careful, we might be pipped for fifth place and then we might be pipped for sixth place.
"We need to keep going, stay positive and get as many points as we can.
"If there's one player in this team that (says he) doesn't want to play Champions League football, they'd be a liar. We want to get there.
"Having been in the top four so long, to drop away now doesn't bear thinking about."
Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is battling to shake off a virus in time to face the Toffees.
Central defender Carlos Cuellar is suffering from a back problem and, if he is ruled out, then Zat Knight could earn a recall alongside Davies.
Striker Emile Heskey, skipper Martin Laursen and left-back Wilfred Bouma are still sidelined through injury as Villa look to end a run of just one point from the last six league games.
Aston Villa 11/10, Draw 12/5, Everton 12/5
