Davis eager for start after club woe
SKIPPER Steven Davis is looking forward to actually putting a full week’s training to good use tonight in Vienna — after hardly featuring for his club Southampton this season.
Davis has only started one game and come off the bench twice for the Saints, despite Mark Hughes’ men only winning once in the Premier League.
But the 33-year old will be instrumental in Northern Ireland’s midfield tonight at the Ernst Happel Stadium against an Austrian side also looking for their first win in the Nations League.
“For me personally, it’s just nice to get away. Of course, you train all week and try and do the right things and make sure you’re in the best possible condition to be ready to play,” said Cullybackey lad Davis.
“I really enjoyed the two games in September and it’s nice to be coming away again. I’ll be looking forward to getting on the pitch.”
Last month, in the Nations League opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the friendly victory over Israel, Davis was instrumental in two fine Northern Ireland performances.
Defeat soured the display over Bosnia, however Davis admits Northern Ireland should be proud of their performances and look to impose their high line, played at pace against Austria tonight. Wing backs Jamal Lewis and Paddy McNair will play an important role complementing Stuart Dallas and Jordan Jones, while Davis’ midfield partner George Saville will be looking to power into the opposition box.
With Kyle Lafferty ruled out, Rotherham striker Kyle Vassell has been brought into the panel by boss Michael O’Neill.
The 25-year old has made the jump from League Two with Blackpool to the Championship this season and now international football. Davis believes the English-born player could be a good addition to the squad.
Davis added: “From what I’ve seen in training, it looks as if he’s definitely got something there to offer.” With David Alaba ruled out, Austria’s stand-out name will not take to the field and instead a largely unknown contingent will be tasked with facing Northern Ireland tonight.
Of course, West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic will command his fair share of attention, the forward having bagged 19 goals for his country in 74 appearances, and every move he makes will be closely watched by the Northern Ireland defence.
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However, this is a young Austrian squad with plenty of pace and a lot to prove after a couple of tough years and there are a few unheralded names ready to step into the spotlight.
The likes of Marcel Sabitzer and Valentino Lazaro are good players in their own right, but with places in the squad up for grabs they’ll be keen to show off their attacking flair, while Salzburg’s Andreas Ulmer will want to stake his own claim in the place of Alaba.