Source: Team_Talk
Villa defender vows to soldier on
The central defender admits there is a weakness in his shoulder after dislocating it during the FA Cup reversal at Everton at the weekend.[LNB]Davies suffered a similar setback during his spell at West Brom before making the move to Villa Park 18 months ago.[LNB]But he had recovered sufficiently to play in Wednesday night's 1-1 home draw with CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup and is optimistic of being available to face Chelsea in Saturday's crunch Premier League meeting at Villa Park.[LNB]Villa can ill afford to lose Davies' services with Zat Knight currently the only other fit centre-back as Martin Laursen and Carlos Cuellar are also sidelined through injury.[LNB]Davies said: "The shoulder is okay. It is a bit sore but it feels weak rather than painful.[LNB]"It is just a bit of a hindrance when you are trying to hold someone off but, other than that it is fine, so you get on with it.[LNB]"If it keeps coming out, then obviously you have to address it but the fact it came out and went back in - and the pain had gone - meant I was always going to carry on.[LNB]"I will try and get through the rest of the season. There is so much to play for. If I can manage that without hurting it, I've got a long summer to rest.[LNB]"Will I need surgery? I don't think so. I'm only young so hopefully I'm a quick healer but I need to get through to the end of the season without damaging it and then hopefully it will all settle down.[LNB]"I will try and train as I play because, if I don't train properly, I'll be going into games a bit lax and won't be able to put in a performance."[LNB]Davies remains optimistic Villa have the quality to win in Moscow in the second leg next Thursday after John Carew's second-half equaliser cancelled out CSKA striker Vagner Love's opener.[LNB]He said: "We had quite a few good chances and I think they only had two or three shots on target all through the game and they have scored one.[LNB]"It was a bit frustrating but we are still in the tie. That is the main thing and, if they open up a bit on their own ground, hopefully Ashley (Young) and Gabby (Agbonlahor) with their pace will be able to exploit it.[LNB]"We have won 10 away Premier League games. Obviously going to Moscow is a different animal, playing on an artificial pitch which will be strange for a lot of us.[LNB]"I have never played a game on one. I've trained on them but when you are training you are a bit more passive. It will be interesting but at the end of the day it is a game of football, the same for both teams."[LNB]Davies has called on Villa to shake off any tiredness they may be feeling for the visit of Guus Hiddink's side.[LNB]He said: "There isn't much time to recover but that is football. If you want to be in every competition, and you want to be successful, that is what happens.[LNB]"It is a shame Chelsea's Champions League game wasn't this week to match ours. It will be interesting to see what happens but we have got to stay strong and basically go out there and play our game."[LNB][LNB] Chelsea 11/8[LNB], Aston Villa 15/8[LNB], Draw 12/5[LNB]
