Davies backs old boss Jol to get it right at Spurs

Jol splashed out £40million on new players during the summer and Fulham midfielder Davies, whose side face Spurs at Craven Cottage tomorrow, said: "When you spend that money, people demand success. That's the way football is these days.

"But Jol's a very, very good coach. I was very impressed with him. He is one of the best coaches I've worked with. He is a very impressive football man and definitely the right man for the Tottenham job."

If Davies has a handshake for Jol at the end of the game, he'll offer a wave to the Spurs fans, too. Plucked from Peterborough by George Graham on New Year's Eve in 1999, he made over 120 appearances in a Spurs shirt - there would have been many more but for a series of injuries - and the Wales midfielder impressed sufficiently to be voted player of the season for 2002/03.

"I still look at that award," he said. "The names on it are unbelievable and to have mine there too is special. I had some great times at Spurs. I loved playing at White Hart Lane, the crowd always got behind me."

If Fulham fans fear that sounds a little too cosy, considering what is at stake between two teams desperate to climb from the lower reaches of the Premier League table, then they should take into account the ambition that drives the 27-year-old.

Recalling his move to Everton in May 2005, Davies said: "I was under no pressure to leave Spurs. I had signed a new contract just before I did go. But Everton were in the Champions League and I wanted to play Champions League football. It just never worked out. There was no-one to blame. I never really got to full fitness and after the first season I knew I wanted to leave."

In January, Chris Coleman brought his former Wales team-mate back to London and at the time Davies was delighted with the confidence boost the move gave him.

"Cookie wants to play to my strengths," he said. "He aims to get the ball down and people to pass it.

"It's attacking football that will suit all aspects of my game and I will be able to fit in very quickly."

Davies proved a near-perfect fit, but struggling Coleman departed before the season was out and replaced by Lawrie Sanchez.

The player could be excused for feeling a little bewildered. Sanchez brings the number of managers Davies has played under at club and international level to over 10, many of them high-profile figures like Graham, Glenn Hoddle, Mark Hughes, David Moyes, John Toshack and Jol.

Davies said: "It could have been difficult but I've taken positives from everyone I've played for, they've brought different ideas to my game.

"George Graham was hard but fair. He was good for me at the time because coming from a small club he drilled into me the things you had to do to make it in the Premier League.

"Glenn Hoddle was very important when I broke into the Tottenham side.

"I probably played some of my best football under him."

And Sanchez? Davies said: "We had a meeting at the end of last season and he said there were going to be a lot of changes and whoever wanted to stay had to prove their worth.

"I was impressed enough to come back for pre-season training as fit as possible. The club have set a lot of ambitions and at this minute Fulham's a good place to be."

With his side second from bottom, and Jol's Tottenham only two places higher in the table, Davies said: "For whoever wins, it will take a lot of pressure off.

"It's not like it will all be over for the loser. But when you're losing games down the bottom of the table you start wondering when's the next win coming.But being the home team we believe we're going to have a good chance. Okay, I had five great years at Spurs but I'm with Fulham now and if I score or set up the winner, it will mean a massive amount to me."

Michael Dawson, Aaron Lennon and Younes Kaboul are all in line to face Fulham.

Dawson and Lennon have been missing since the start of the season due to ankle and knee injuries respectively, while Kaboul limped off against Everton with a hamstring problem.

Jol will be without Darren Bent, although the striker is expected to return from his thigh strain in time to play against Arsenal in a fortnight.

Meanwhile, Spurs are set to miss out on West Brom defender Curtis Davies, who has been given permission to talk to Aston Villa.