Probably the best 'pub team player' in the world

If at first you don't succeed, professional football provides every incentive to have another go. At the age of 15, Curtis Davies, a native of David Beckham's Leytonstone, was rejected by Wimbledon after a year as a trainee; determined to persevere, he wrote to every club in the south-east from Arsenal downwards and was promised a trial at Luton Town, whose faith was rewarded in spectacular fashion. Within three seasons, the young centre-half was League One Player of the Year and soon after that he earned an impoverished club £3 million with his transfer to West Bromwich Albion.

Captain at 21 but unwilling to drop back into the Championship after Albion's relegation, Davies secured a move down the A41 to Aston Villa, on loan at first and making a debut against Leicester City which he famously described as "awful... rubbish... I looked like a pub team player". Perseverance again produced remarkable results and, four months later, he was named in FabioCapello's first international squad.

Injury prevented Davies turning up but last month he travelled to Berlin for the friendly against Germany, making further mockery of Wimbledon's judgement.

"The only reason I was in the squad was because there were some injuries," Davies said on Friday, "but I've been in the door, put my face there, and so if I keep my form, the manager will be thinking about me."

Davies enjoyed the experience, and his impressions of Capello were a pleasant surprise too: "I expected some sort of headmaster from what you read in the papers. But he's quite laid-back and relaxed. The only rule is that everyone stays behind until the last one finishes dinner."

Although not a natural rebel, insisting on a move from Albion suggested an ambitious nature, confirmed in his desire to make the World Cup finals the summer after next, assuming England qualify. He said: "My aim in coming here was to get into the England squad and play European football. Now I've had a taste I've got a season and a half to stake my claim and get on that flight."

European football has arrived too, and plenty of it, in the form of Villa's run from the InterToto Cup last July to qualifying on Thursday night for the last 32 despite a home defeat by Zilina of Slovakia. It was a good game to miss, which Davies and seven other regulars did, the majority of them expecting to be restored for today's game at Everton.

At the end of last season, Villa went there needing a win in what was effectively a play-off for fifth place in the table, but a 2-2 draw kept David Moyes' side ahead of them. This time Villa are in front but only by three points, having failed to capitalise on an outstanding 2-0 victory at Arsenal three weeks ago.

"There's been a few surprises, teams seem to be beating each other all over the shop," Davies said, "whereas last year you'd expect some consistency from the top four. So that's made it a bit more interesting."

If any team are to break into that leading quartet, Villa appear to be the best placed. Having failed last time, their philosophy, as Davies' eventful career has already taught him, is try, try again.

Today's matches

Everton v Aston Villa (Sky Sports 1, 4pm)

Hogmanay, and the transfer window, cannot come quickly enough for David Moyes as Everton strikers continue to go down like pins in a bowling alley. Victor Anichebe will be on his own here, presumably with Tim Cahill in support, attempting to improve a wretched home record. Beware, Villa are quick on the break.

West Bromwich Albion v Portsmouth (3pm)

England's two goalkeepers against Germany last month, David James and Scott Carson, will be keenly studied at the Hawthorns after significant errors recently. James could be up against two strikers, with Albion tempted to bring back Roman Bednar in the quest for some goals to prevent them being cut adrift at the bottom.

Steve Tongue