MX23RW : Friday, December 13 16:42:03| >> :120:14075:14075:

Warren Feeney: 'Steven Davis is cool as ice'

Warren Feeney: 'Steven Davis is cool as ice'
© Reuters
Steven Davis has won a Northern Irish record of 124 international caps.

"Cool-as-ice" Rangers midfielder Steven Davis can carry on playing at the top level because of his exemplary commitment, according to former Northern Ireland team-mate Warren Feeney.

The 36-year-old has enjoyed a memorable season, taking his cap haul to a Northern Ireland record of 124 and winning the Scottish Premiership title.

The UEFA Cup finalist is targeting further glory with Rangers hosting Slavia Prague in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday after a 1-1 draw in the Czech capital.

And he looks set to eclipse Peter Shilton's UK record of 125 caps later this month.

Davis is out of contract at the end of the season but Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has expressed hope he will sign on again after tipping him as a player-of-the-year contender.

"Steven Davis is just a machine," said Feeney, who is manager of Bulgarian second-tier leaders Pirin Blagoevgrad. "It seems as if he has been around for 100 years but he has shown his class.

"He has been instrumental in Rangers winning the league and, with Steven Gerrard being a midfielder as well, it just shows the confidence he has got in what Steven Davis is all about.

"He just keeps going, nothing fazes him. He just keeps going and going with the level of performance, which is exceptional to play at that level and international.

"It's just his composure, he settles things down and keeps things simple. Nothing fazes him and he's a great person off the pitch. With his wife Tracey, they are a really down-to-earth family.

"I don't see why he can't keep going. He has proved he is cool as ice and he looks after himself. And I don't think there's one person who has met him who would say anything different. He is just a very humble boy."

Davis is often name-checked by younger Rangers players as setting an example of the gym and training-ground work needed to excel.

And with 47 appearances for club and country this season, his regime is still standing the former Aston Villa, Southampton and Fulham player in good stead.

"He sets the standard," said former Dundee United forward Feeney, who won 46 caps for Northern Ireland. "Steven is from the older generation where you had to work, where nowadays sometimes these kids are handed things too soon.

"Years ago, if some of the stories came out now you could make a fortune with the history of what went on with these coaches and the first-team pros, but that's what made us what we were.

"It shows that he is in the gym. You look at (Cristiano) Ronaldo as well, first in the gym and last to leave, but I think you have to.

"It's not just like some of these kids nowadays, get in your Mercedes at 12 o'clock and drive home. If you want to be the best, you have to stay the best."

ID:439410: cacheID:439410:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4222:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Steven Davis at a Northern Ireland press conference on September 8, 2019
Read Next:
Steven Davis eyeing return to Champions League with Rangers
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!