Source: Daily_Mail
Kevin Davies - an ageing Reggae Boy on the verge of an England debut at 33
'My half brother is Jamaican, so I might try for them - I have more chance of getting into that squad than the England squad, it's not going to happen for me.'[LNB]Those were the words of Kevin Davies back in August after Fabio Capello had once again snubbed the striker of an international call-up despite the World Cup fiasco.[LNB]Not even two months later and having given up hope at the age of 33, Davies' years of hard graft at Bolton have finally been rewarded.[LNB] Hustle and bustle: Kevin Davies (right) has worked hard to get England recognition[LNB]OLDEST ENGLAND DEBUTS Ever: Goalkeeper Alexander Morton (Crystal Palace) 1873 .................................. 41Since 1945: Leslie Compton (Arsenal) 1950...............................................................38Other notable 'oldies: Bill Nicholson (Tottenham) 1951..........................................32Jim Taylor (Fulham) 1951.............................. 33Chris Powell (Charlton) 2001.........................31Steve Bould (Arsenal) 1994..........................31Kevin Richardson (Aston Villa) 1994............31Steve Perryman (Tottenham) 1982................30[LNB]The ex-Southampton and Blackburn striker has often had to do things the hard way. Having been released from boyhood heroes Sheffield United's youth system, his career in football looked set to be over before it started.[LNB]Chesterfield were to give the youngster his chance after taking him on trial in 1993, but with Davies having to drop down three divisions just to get a game, must have seen the Derbyshire club as his final shot at a career in football.[LNB]Thrown in the deep end with the Speirites he was the club's top goal scorer in the 1994/95 season as Chesterfield won promotion to Division Two.[LNB]Davies hit the national headlines with a hat-trick - ironically against Bolton - as Chesterfield stormed to the FA Cup semi-finals in 1997.[LNB] Doing it for his country: Kevin Davies is ready to serve England[LNB]By then top scouts had been alerted to his talents but Southampton who won the race for his signature that same year - at a cost of £750,000.[LNB]Then Saints boss Graeme Souness said: 'He is far from the finished article, but has lots of potential and ability.'[LNB]But not even he could have been prepared for his new signing's sensational 1997/98 season.[LNB]Despite an injury-blighted season he finished runner-up in the Premiership's Young Player of the Year and earned made the England Under-21 squad.[LNB] Best of times: Davies at Chesterfield and Southampton[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Low points: A flop at Blackburn and rejected by Millwall[LNB]DAVIES AT A GLANCE...1993-97 Chesterfield 129 games 22 goals1997-98 Southampton 25, 91988-99 Blackburn 23, 11999-2003 Southampton 82, 102002 Millwall (loan) 9, 32003 Bolton 254, 56 [LNB]Barely a year after his move to the Dell, Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson shelled out £7.5m for Davies as Rovers looked to revive their title-winning ways of just three years earlier.[LNB]However, the Ewood Park dream proved a nightmare as he scored just one goal during a campaign that ended in relegation.[LNB]Davies' career went into freefall faster than it rose. A return to Southampton didn't help and three goals in nine loan appearances for Millwall ended with him on the football scrap heap by 2003.[LNB]Step forward Bolton boss Sam Allardyce - he snapped up the striker, started him in every Premier League game and was rewarded with nine goals.[LNB] The fans loved him too, naming him Player of the Year in a season which Davies came agonisingly close to League Cup glory, on target in a 2-1 final defeat to Middlesbrough.[LNB]Big Sam provided the finishing touches Souness had hinted at.[LNB]His belief in Davies was reflected by Davies 100 per cent commitment on the pitch knowing that he had a manager who finally believed in his talent.[LNB]Not even Sam Allardyce's departure in 2007 failed to halt Davies' progress and Gary Megson even gave him the captain's armband in 2008.[LNB]Man at the mic: Kevin Davies loves being involved with the England set-up[LNB]However, the England door remained shut.[LNB]Sven-Goran Eriksson preferred Emile Heskey , Darius Vassell and Theo Walcott while even David Nugent was considered more worth of a Three Lions shirt by Steve McClaren.[LNB]Fabio Capello did not turn to Davies either but with Heskey retired and both Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora injured, the 33-year-old has finally been handed his call-up.[LNB]And it's no more than current Bolton boss Owen Coyle feels he deserves.[LNB]Coyle said: 'I am thrilled to bits for him, he has earned this chance, He has been such a consistent player - and he is playing at such a high level this year.[LNB]'Age doesn't come into it. If you have got have got a quality player you just pick him. I think he can go on and stay in Fabio Capello's squad now.'[LNB]And for a player with so many career peaks and troughs, it's hard to bet against him doing just that.[LNB] Kevin Davies handed shock England call-up by Fabio Capello - and blunder keeper Robert Green returnsMartin Samuel: Picking Kevin Davies is a crying shame for the English game...Bolton boost as skipper Kevin Davies extends stay at the Reebok until 2012Bolton striker Kevin Davies hit with FA charge over referee remarksRio Ferdinand wins back captain's armband from Steven Gerrard for England's crunch qualifier with MontenegroWatch out England! World class Vucinic the main threat for MontenegroBOLTON WANDERERS FC
