Rookie Davis lines up for hardest test

Wolves youngster David Davis was today told he has kept his place against Manchester United - as he was challenged to repeat his debut display in the "hardest test".

Davis' performance on his Premier League bow was one of the few highlights of Saturday's 2-0 defeat against Blackburn.

Manager Terry Connor has all but confirmed the Smethwick-born 21-year-old will retain his place in the starting line-up for Sunday's visit of the champions and Premier League leaders with Karl Henry injured.

But Connor warned Davis the hard work starts now.

"The next game is the hardest one and it will be another part of his development," said the boss.

"Having had the debut, another part of his education is that he produces the same performance in his second game.

"It's Manchester United – can he perform to the same levels?"

Davis was recalled from his loan at League One strugglers Chesterfield for his Premier League debut to be selected ahead of experienced internationals Nenad Milijas and Eggert Jonsson, a £600,000 signing in January.

But Connor revealed he never had any doubts about throwing Davis in.

"It a little bit of a measure of how much I think of him, but I just watched him in training and that convinced me that game was right for him," he said.

"I didn't feel the need to hold him back any more – he was ready, and if they're ready, they should be given a chance to play.

"I wasn't surprised at his performance. He's done his apprenticeship, he's been out on loan, he's been coached well and he's worked really hard.

"He's been sent out on loan at the right times and sometimes it's gone well for him and other times it's taken him a while.

"But with each demand, he's stepped up to that and I just felt once we knew about Karl's injury, it was right to bring him back and have a look.

"Once I saw him in training, I had no hesitation thinking he was ready to play."

There was a mixed reaction when Connor substituted Davis after 74 minutes, but the manager revealed the youngster would have been injured otherwise.

"He was suffering with cramp for five minutes and he'd have done himself an injury if we hadn't have looked after him," he added.