Davies and Knight fight for place

Villa boss Martin O’Neill finally believes Curtis Davies is ready for the rigours of regular Premier League football.

O’Neill had to choose between Davies and Zat Knight as the centre-half partner for Martin Laursen for today’s tea-time clash against Tottenham.

Davies made his first League start for Villa in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Wigan when he also equalised, two months after the on-loan Albion defender described his Villa debut as a “pub player” against Leicester.

Knight was available again today following his suspension at the weekend and O’Neill has welcomed the selection dilemma.

“Curtis will be feeling a lot better. I thought he was really splendid in the second half,” said O’Neill.

“It took him a bit of time to get used to everything around him, not just the conditions – the other players, all that type of stuff.

“And to try to get some sort of understanding with Martin Laursen at the back. But in the second half I thought he was outstanding.He really adjusted to the game. There were no frills about him, but that game wasn’t a day for frills.

“If you had time to control the ball and measure a pass out, then fine, but if you haven’t got time then play the game simply.

“Saturday was a day for playing the game simply.”

O’Neill greeted the opening of the transfer window today by declaring he has the competition he craves at centre-half.

Davies and Knight add to the competition provided by Laursen while O’Neill wants Olof Mellberg, who like Laursen is out of contract in June to stay, and Gary Cahill, who has returned from a three-month loan at Sheffield United.

“Roll these decisions on! This time last year we certainly didn’t have this at all,” said the Villa boss.

“We had nothing to choose from and were going out from game to game over the Christmas period.

“Here, not that we change too many, we have one or two players waiting in the wings. We’ve been a bit lucky in terms of injuries at this minute, but who knows? That could change.”

Cahill is due to have talks with O’Neill amid plenty of interest in the 22-year-old.