9:10am Thursday 9th July 2009
SEAN Davis has followed David Beckham’s example by demanding the number 23 on his Wanderers kit this season.
The Whites’ new signing revealed his numerical preference yesterday as the first team squad reported back to Euxton for pre-season training.
Beckham famously switched from number seven to 23 after signing for Real Madrid in homage to his hero, basketballer Michael Jordan, and retained the number when he made the switch to LA Galaxy.
The former Manchester United star also switched round the numbers, to 32, whilst on loan at AC Milan last season.
The number 23 is popular in the notoriously superstitious footballing world, and Davis admitted that he was glad to have it back, having been pipped to the shirt by Sol Campbell at his former club Portsmouth.
“It’s my lucky number,” he said. “I played as number 23 at Fulham for a long, long time and should have been 23 at Portsmouth but Sol got there ahead of me, so it’s good to have the number back.”
Davis joined former Fratton Park team-mates Andy O’Brien and Matt Taylor for a full training session yesterday morning.
The only absentees were Ricardo Gardner, who is on international duty with Jamaica, and Fabrice Muamba, who has been given extra time off after his work with England Under-21s.
Following months of speculation over his future, Davis is now intent on setting down some roots in his new surroundings.
The midfielder has moved his family up north from their Wimbledon base, and claims he required little convincing to get on board at the Reebok after chatting with Gary Megson at the end of last season.
“There was a lot of doubt about where I would be,” he said. “But once I had spoken to the manager and the people here, it was an easy decision.
“The manager was very enthusiastic. He seemed like he really wanted me. I felt really appreciated and confident about the way he was talking to me.
“A lot of people thought it would be a hard decision, with me being a London boy, but it was once of the easiest ones I have ever had to make and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
The 29-year-old is looking forward to the pre-season campaign, which will include a week-long fitness camp in Austria followed by a nine-day tour of Holland and Germany.
“I’m looking forward to going away and getting to know the boys,” he told Wanderers World.
“It’s a long trip to Austria, especially considering there isn’t any games over there. It will be a hard week but hopefully once it’s finished we’ll be a lot fitter and sharper and we can look forward to playing some games.”
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