Gardner hoping Villa give injured Davies Euro boost

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Defender Davies is out for a minimum six months after he ruptured his Achilles tendon in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Arsenal.

Villa were cruelly denied victory at the Emirates Stadium by a late equaliser from Nicklas Bendtner which has left them five points off Everton in the Barclays Premier League's much-coveted fourth place.

Scroll down for more

Injury blow: Curtis Davies stretchered off at Arsenal

But Martin O'Neill's side have not given up on competing in a competition they last played in 25 years ago - a season after they won the competition with a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in Rotterdam in 1982.

"The best way to cheer Curtis up is by getting into Europe, so he has something big to aim for next season," Gardner said. "We want to finish fourth, we're not settling for fifth or sixth, we want to finish fourth. Let's see if we can do it."

Davies is due to complete a permanent move to Villa Park in the summer once his loan from West Brom runs out.

After a slow start to his Villa career the former Luton centre-back has earned rave reviews for his part in a run of just one defeat in the midlands club's last dozen top-flight matches.

And Gardner insisted the 22-year-old will get plenty of support from his colleagues at Villa as he begins the long road to recovery.

"Curtis was absolutely gutted in the dressing room afterwards and I understand why. But he'll come through this," Gardner told Villa's official website www.avfc.co.uk.

"He has the sense of humour and the right character to get over this and come back an even stronger player. I'll be there for him, Martin Laursen will be there for him and a lot of the others will support him. Curtis won't be forgotten about just because he's injured. Aston Villa are such a close unit now and we're all in it for each other.

"We might not be as showy about it as some teams - you see Chelsea and Arsenal hugging each other and I think that's a bit over the top, to be honest. But inside the dressing room and out there on the pitch we're there for each other any day of the week. I think that's what the gaffer has instilled in us."