WALES fans may have one reason to smile this week despite the loss of national team coach Mark Hughes to Blackburn Rovers.
After Wales disastrous start to the World Cup campaign and the news of Hughes opting to move on, it may seem difficult to be positive, but one man is certain to provide a ray of hope.
Because after a year of horrendous injury troubles Tottenham and Wales star Simon Davies (pictured) is back to full fitness and he is ready to shine once again.
Davies has been sorely missed by both club and country in 2004 but after an operation this summer on his troublesome shin, he has finally been declared fully fit and he is back in first team action at Spurs.
Davies returned to the fold against Norwich last weekend as a second half substitute and despite lacking match sharpness he looked a constant threat from the moment he entered the fray, beating players and whipping in crosses in familiar fashion.
And the west Walian winger has admitted that he is delighted to be back, particularly with the England clash on October 9 looming large.
"It is fantastic to be back, this is the best I have felt for a long time and it takes such a weight off my mind," he said.
"Tottenham are going to give me the games that I need to be fit and hopefully when October 9th comes around I will be ready.
"It is going to be the biggest game of my career and it is in the back of my mind already and playing against some of your friends makes it all the more exciting.
"The game is going to be great for Tottenham who are supplying the spine of the England team (Paul Robinson, Ledley King, Jermaine Defoe) and they have all done fantastically well and we are lucky to have all three of them at Spurs.
"England are looking very impressive but I am hoping that with me and Ryan back on the wings it is going to be a bit different."
Davies has recently signed a new contract at Spurs taking him up to 2009 and he is pleased to have committed his future to the North London club, who seem to be on the up after the appointment of French coach Jacques Santini.
He explained: "I have spent a year out but they have supported me and given me a new contract, which is great.
"You start wondering when you are going to get a new contract because I wasn't able to give them a set date of when I would be back from injury, but it took the pressure off me and allowed me to take my time in coming back.
"When you can't do anything to influence the manager it is horrible. It is the worst thing to be watching a game when you know that you should be out there playing.
"But I like to think I can offer something a bit different to the team now that I am fit. There aren't too many naturally right-sided midfield players here and I like to think that at the top of my game I am well worth my place in the team."
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