Source: Team_Talk
Davies delighted with Downing deal
Downing, a £12million acquisition from Middlesbrough last week, will not be available until October after he recovers from injury.
But central defender Davies has every faith in the England international to reach the same heights as Barry who ended his 12-year association at Villa when making the move to Eastlands.
Davies said: "Stewart is obviously a top player, an England international, who has been in the squad regularly under Fabio Capello as well as Steve McClaren.
"He's a great signing. He can play anywhere across the middle of the park and also he gives us that edge so that, with Gareth leaving, we got a top quality player coming in.
"I don't think he can play for a few months but I'm sure when he comes in he will be top drawer."
Davies is anticipating Villa manager Martin O'Neill adding more signings during the next few weeks,
The former Celtic boss continues to be strongly linked with Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas.
Davies said: "I am sure the gaffer wants to build the squad. Last summer I think we signed something like six players.
"If people see the progression we have made as a team, and we get the right names here, they could help push us into the top four.
"I am sure the gaffer will address whom he wants."
Villa's England Under-21 players - Gabriel Agbonlahor, James Milner and Craig Gardner - have been excluded from the squad for the Peace Cup tournament in Spain.
The Villa trio did not end their involvement in the European Championships in Sweden until the end of June and will not report back with the midlands club until early August after being given an extra break.
Left-back Wilfred Bouma, who missed all of last season with a dislocated ankle, has been selected.
And the likes of Emile Heskey, John Carew and Stiliyan Petrov, who were involved in World Cup qualifiers until the second week of June, have been included in the party by manager Martin
O'Neill.
Villa take on co-hosts Malaga in their first group stage game on Saturday, before facing Atlante of Mexico next Wednesday.
