Premier League debut beats final for rookie Davis

Wolves rookie David Davis today declared he is ready for a Premier League call-up after insisting: "I'm happy to miss out on Wembley".

The 21-year-old midfielder's return to Molineux means he misses out on Chesterfield's historic trip to the national stadium against Swindon in the Johnstone Paints Trophy final on Sunday, March 25 after being recalled from his loan by Wolves boss Terry Connor.

But it's a gamble Davis is prepared to take with a possible top-flight debut against Blackburn looming this Saturday as Karl Henry is ruled out and Dave Edwards is struggling to make the weekend clash.

"It means I'll probably miss out on a Wembley trip which can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Davis.

"But I'm still only 21 with hopefully a long career in front of me.

"It might be a gamble but when 'TC' asked me to come back I was happy to do it.

"I've got the chance now to try to take my opportunity if it comes along."

Davis might not have played for Wolves in the Premier League but he has amassed 60 appearances on loan at Darlington, Shrewsbury, Walsall and Inverness Caledonian Thistle and he stressed he no longer feels like a novice.

"It's not like I'm an 18-year-old anymore without any experience," he said.

"I've picked up a lot of experience on loan and playing at Celtic in front of almost 50,000 for Inverness taught me a lot.

"So if I do get the chance in the near future I'm ready to make sure I take it.

"I've played a lot of games and I don't feel out of place alongside the players here.

"Wolves are my club, it's where I'm contracted and I want to play in the first team here.

"That's what I've been working towards for the last three years.

"I certainly wouldn't be fazed if the opportunity did come along."

Meanwhile, Connor today insisted Wolves' record against struggling teams this season means they can handle the pressure.

In contrast to last season when they caught the eye with wins against the Premier League's elite, Wolves' victories this term have come against teams who were in and around them when they played – Blackburn, Wigan, Sunderland and QPR, while they drew at Villa and Bolton.

And boss Connor believes Wolves have shown they can cope with the high pressure associated with the survival clashes by bringing home the bacon when it matters.

"Last season we beat a lot of the top teams whereas this season we've done better in the little mini-league around us and the teams at the bottom," he said.

"It does give us confidence and is something we stress to the players ahead of a game like this.

"Ultimately to give us the best possible chance of staying up we need to win games regardless of whether it's Blackburn or anyone else.

"It's one of those against a team down there with us in the bottom five and everyone is saying it's three from five to go."

Although the result is all-important, Connor stressed the need for supporters to put the outcome in perspective given there will still be another 10 games left afterwards.

"The ultimate idea is to make sure you are still in the Premier League on May 13," he said.

"Things can change so quickly. But our strength is we've been around it for most of the time in the Premier League and I think that will stand us in good stead."