Tottenham star prompts Troy Deeney to do something he never imagined he would.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Troy Deeney admitted there was one name he never expected to include in his Team of the Week — Ben Davies.
“I didn’t think I’d ever be putting this name in, but fair play to Ben Davies,” Deeney said. “He’s only playing his third game of the season, comes in to start with Djed Spence on the bench, which shows the level of professionalism and maturity he brings, and he scores. It proves you don’t have to be 37 to be written off.”
Davies, who has been linked with a move away from Tottenham this month, may have played his way back into Thomas Frank’s plans after scoring in the 30th minute against Sunderland. The goal came in just his second Premier League appearance of the campaign and stood out in an otherwise frustrating afternoon for Spurs, who were held to a 1-1 draw.
His display impressed Deeney enough to earn him a place in the Team of the Week — something the former striker openly admitted he never imagined would happen. There were few Tottenham players to emerge from the Sunderland match with much credit, but Davies was clearly one of them.
Tottenham’s recent run has seen them draw 0-0 with Brentford on New Year’s Day before being held again by Sunderland, leaving them 13th in the table. Despite being three games unbeaten in the league, they have gone two matches without a win, and frustration among supporters was evident as boos rang out at full time.
Deeney continued his praise, noting: “He’s 32 and people have already written him off, but he’s got a World Cup to aim for with Wales. He’s always fit and available, and that’s something I really like.”
Davies’ contribution went beyond his goal. According to FotMob, he completed 85 per cent of his passes, had both of his shots on target, played eight passes into the final third and was not dispossessed once. Defensively, he made five clearances and won 60 per cent of his aerial duels, underlining a composed and well-rounded performance.
Signed from Swansea City in 2014, Davies has now made over 360 appearances for Tottenham. He featured 28 times in all competitions last season, and with his contract set to expire this summer, his display against Sunderland served as a reminder of his reliability and experience, even on a difficult day for Spurs.
