Few players emerged from Rangers defeat to Celtic at Parkhead, but Ben Davies has as good a claim as any to be one of them.
Coming in for his first start of 2024 was always going to be difficult and, with an out of sorts Borna Barisic next to him, he would have been forgiven for looking a little rusty.
Instead, he put in an assured display that raises questions as to why he hasn’t been back in the team sooner and proven that Rangers won’t have any problems selling Ben Davies in the summer if that is the decision made.
Ben Davies can hold head high despite Rangers exit claims
The 28-year old has had spells where he has looked like a reliable option on the left-hand side of the defence only to throw in a howler and increase the pressure on himself.
With a £4.5m transfer fee to justify, the former Liverpool defender was up against it from the start having been signed to replace the popular duo of Filip Helander and Leon Balogun.
Davies is an incisive passer of the ball, however, he isn’t the biggest centre-half in Scottish ootball and he can get bullied as a result.
Against Celtic though, he kept Kyogo Furuhashi quiet other than an early shot on the turn.
Speaking on the mentality needed after going down to 10 men, he said:
“We just had to stay in the game for as long as we could and then try and nick something, like we did the last time we were at Parkhead when we were down to 10 men. We created chances and were hoping to could get something towards the end and then go from there. But it wasn’t to be.
“I think it is difficult when you play half the game with 10 men and stay in the game for that long. But I thought that we showed character in the second half, stuck together and stayed in the game for as long as we could looking for that opportunity at the end.”
Davies performance shows potential suitors what he can do
Ben Davies has been unlucky with injury this season, as he was last year too.
One of the issues when he has been fit is that the difference between his best and his worst are far from what would be expected for a player with his valuation.
It is his best that Nils Koppen should be using to tempt other clubs into making a bid though.
Games against Real Betis, Sparta Prague and Celtic have seen Davies cope with good quality strikers, but also be brave in possession.
The trip to Aris Limassol is probably best ignored though seeing as he looked like he had won a rafffle to play.
In a league or system that doesn’t require him to be physically dominant, Davies would be a solid option and he has shown what he is capable of at Rangers and before he joined at Sheffield United on loan.
Philippe Clement needs to address the middle of defence and, if Davies isn’t fancied, there is a good chance that his sale could fund a replacement.
With Jose Cordoba being linked already, it could be one in, one out without a dent made in the manager’s budget.
