SKIPPER DAVIS CAPS THE LOT

Northern Ireland legend will be level with Peter Shilton as Britain’s most capped player tonight

NORTHERN IRELAND skipper Steven Davis can barely believe he will tonight equal Peter Shilton’s record as Britain’s most-capped player.

Davis will move level with Shilton’s 125 international appearances when he leads the team out for their opening World Cup qualifier against Italy.

“It’s quite incredible to be in that position where I have that number of caps,” said the Rangers midfielder.

“It won’t be something I will be thinking about going into the game. It’s a by-product of the match because the most important thing is to try and get off to a positive start in the campaign.

“I don’t really know how to sum it up in words. Breaking the Northern Ireland record was huge for me on a personal level. But to be able to get the British one, that’s something I will look back on with great pride, especially when I finish my career.”

Davis, 36, who has signed a contract extension to keep him at Ibrox next season, is on course to break the record either in Sunday’s friendly against the USA or Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria.

“I’m feeling good and I’ve been enjoying my football at Rangers,” said the former Southampton star. “The team’s been playing well and I want to continue playing as well as I can.”

Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough reckons Davis’s final caps total will stand for years.

“It would be superb for him to set a new record and it’ll take some beating from anybody within Britain,” said Baraclough.

“Hopefully he extends that record well beyond these next two games.”

Davis’ first cap was under Lawrie Sanchez in 2005 and Baraclough says he is hugely respected by his team-mates grounded.

“Such is Steve’s character, he just gets on with his job and his role,” he said. “He goes about things quietly. When he comes down for meetings or dinner, he’s very unassuming. You can speak to him about anything.

“He’s not loud, he’s not brash, but there’s a calmness and assurance about him that everyone feeds off.”

Baraclough refuses to be daunted by facing Italy and wants his men to relish the chance to write their names in folklore by getting a result in Parma. He said: “I’m always saying to the players about rewriting history and being the next group of players that are spoken about in the very highest esteem.” because he is so