Ben Davies’ constant Pompey right-back reminder

The 34-year-old has so far been ever-present for the Blues in their League Two campaign.

But despite having spent the majority of his 520-game career in midfield, it is at right-back where he is carving a niche out at Fratton Park.

Admittedly, it is not an entirely foreign role for Davies, who has undoubtedly impressed the Fratton faithful with his energy and commitment since initially arriving on trial this summer.

Regardless, the emergency loan window opens tomorrow and will remain so until November 25.

Cook has made no secret of his desire to bring in another right-back option and will continue to scour the market.

In the meantime, Davies will keep giving everything to the cause as he attempts to aid Pompey’s drive out of League Two.

He said: ‘You have to welcome the challenge of a new right-back coming in – the manager says it to me more or less every day he wants one!

‘He tells me every time I see him he wants to bring someone else in and I always have a little chuckle when he says it.

‘It keeps you on your toes. All the lads know it’s such a good squad that if you are not playing well then you are out of the team. Every day of the week you have to train hard and play okay to stay in.

‘I am really enjoying it at right-back at the minute and hopefully he won’t bring one in too soon.’

Davies, who has started seven of Pompey’s nine matches so far, is presently the only senior right-back at the club.

Gareth Evans dropped back from midfield to stand in for the Capital One Cup defeat against Reading last month.

Then in the youthful side at Exeter in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, Calvin Davies was called up from the Academy for his debut.

The local youngster yesterday turned 18 and is in his final year as a Fratton Park scholar.

Regardless of his promise, the necessity for a new right-back is obvious, but Davies insists he is comfortable continuing in the role for Cook.

He added: ‘As long as I am playing and involved in the squad then I am happy.

‘If you are a footballer and comfortable on the ball you should be able to play anywhere.

‘At Walsall as a kid I played right/centre midfield, then at Chester I was left/right midfield, at Derby I was left/right midfield or right-back – I been all over the place really.

‘We had a lot of injuries last year at Sheffield United so I ended up covering. I started off on the right wing, then right-back and even left-back for a few times – it helps when you have someone who can fit into a number of positions.

‘I don’t know if I am a utility man. It would be nice to get a position and stay there and, of course, the benefits of playing further up is you can get a goal or two.

‘I am 14 goals off 100, it would be nice to get to that figure in the next season.

I like taking free-kicks, but it’s just getting them off Gary Roberts or Kyle Bennett’