By Philip Buckingham
It is over 15 years since Curtis Davies was among the 30 names called up for Fabio Capello’s very first England squad.
The central defender, then impressing in the Premier League with Aston Villa, had been earmarked as a youngster with potential back in 2008. But his ambitions to become an international footballer went unrealised once call-ups failed to yield a senior cap.
Until now. Only not with England but with the African nation of Sierra Leone. In a season that sees him turning out for Cheltenham town at the foot of the League One, Davies last week became fully-fledged international aged 38 and a half. A first cap was won in Sierra Leone’s 2 -0 victory over Somalia, a friendly fixture played on the outskirts of Casablanca, Morocco in front of a smattering of people.
The footballing minnows ranked 124th [Sierra Leone] in the world have a new recruit and Davies after 20 seasons as a professional, has new challenge.
The hope is now for more caps, including a potential World Cup qualifiers against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt next month, November.
Credit: The Athletic (www.theathletic.com)