DAVIS FOCUS IS ON NATIONAL MATTERS

STEVEN Davis met the Duke of Cambridge last week and will earn his 100th Northern Ireland cap tomorrow, but insists the World Cup play-off with Switzerland is more important than such personal landmarks.

Southampton midfielder Davis, 32, will become just the third Northern Irish centurion, following in the footsteps of Pat Jennings and Aaron Hughes when he leads Michael O’Neill’s team out at Windsor Park in the first leg against the Swiss.

It is another significant milestone for a player who recently received his MBE at Buckingham Palace, but Davis, one of his country’s most understated figures, would rather his 100th cap slid under the radar.

“In all honesty I’m not counting caps,” he said.

“I don’t want anything to distract from my or the team’s preparations for the game. That will be at the very back of my mind.

“It’s a huge landmark and I’m delighted to reach it, but my focus is solely on the game and hopefully after the play-offs I can look back and say it was a special achievement.

“It’s not my personality to be sentimental. It’s more a nice feeling for my family at the game.They can enjoy it more, but your focus automatically is on the game and you are in the zone at that point.”

On his MBE honour, Davis revealed: “It was great meeting Prince William and a great experience.”