Davies Injury Jinx Strikes Again

Steve Davies` injury jinx has struck again with the news that he has undergone knee surgery to repair cruciate ligament damage and he is likely to be sidelined until early next year. It is another blow for the young forward he is entering the final year of his contract and was working hard in pre-season to prove his fitness to Nigel Clough and the fans. In a recent interview with the Derby Evening Telegraph Davies said:

'When I came here, I brought a lot of promise with me but, unfortunately, I haven't managed to put too many games together. I know this is my last year and I owe a good season to the manager, who has always stuck by me. Every time I have been fit, I've been in the team, so I think I owe him something - and the fans, who turn up every week.'

Unfortunately, this latest injury looks to have ruled him out for up to six months and it could well be the end of his time at Pride Park if he cannot get a run in the side, injury-free, between now and the end of the season. Davies showed great promise during his time at Tranmere Rovers and Paul Jewell brought him to the club in June 2008. He scored his first goal in a Derby shirt in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham in September of that year but the fractured his cheekbone and eye socket in a game against Plymouth the following month and so began his injury nightmare.

Davies spent six weeks on the sidelines that season, having returned to the starting line-up in December, with a groin injury and also missed a game with an infected big toe before a broken metatarsal saw him miss the final eight games of the campaign. He returned the following summer and impressed in the opening weeks of the season before damaging his ankle, again against Plymouth, and was then sidelined with hamstring injuries between October and December before returning in the new year. He again felt his hamstring in the return with Plymouth and his season ended early when he had an operation to tidy up the ankle he injured earlier in the season.

During his time with The Rams Davies has only made twenty starts with another 26 substitute appearances and the latest injury is a major blow with this contract being up next summer. He had returned to training early to regain his fitness ahead of an important season but the injury jinx has struck again.

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