How SAS and Bayern Munich stars have helped Bognor defender through injury nightmare

Rocks full-back Calvin Davies is back after 18 months out injured - vowing: I want to be in the team every week.
Calvin Davies pictured before his long-awaited Bognor comeback at Selsey / Picture: Tommy McMillanCalvin Davies pictured before his long-awaited Bognor comeback at Selsey / Picture: Tommy McMillan
Calvin Davies pictured before his long-awaited Bognor comeback at Selsey / Picture: Tommy McMillan

The former Pompey academy defender’s return to football came on Monday in a 45-minute appearance in Bognor’s 4-0 victory at Selsey.

Davies’ anterior cruciate ligament injury, which occurred midway through the 2018-19 season, kept him on the sidelines for the whole of last campaign.

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However, after a successful first week of pre-season, Davies feels he’s ready to be a regular again.

He said: “I’m hoping to reclaim my spot and play every week if my knee allows it. The knee felt good and I’m better than expected in terms of fitness.”

His optimistic outlook seems to have steered him through adversity during his time out. Davies feared the worst after his initial operation but has since managed to block out negative thoughts and focus on the positives.

“I’ve actually been very lucky to be honest,” he said. “The PFA paid for all of the physiotherapy and my operation was covered under the NHS.

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“Wayne, my physio from Reactivate, has been brilliant – I’d recommend him to anyone. I saw him every two weeks for the first few months but now I only go when I feel I need to. He’s really happy with my knee and has signed me off, which is why I’m back training.”

Davies was unable to train his body shortly after the operation, so he focused on exercising the mind, devouring several books written by the stars of SAS: Who Dares Wins on Channel 4.

Davies, lauded by Bognor coach Robbie Blake for his gritty determination in training last week, claimed that the ex-Special Forces soldiers have helped him both as a footballer and in his everyday life.

“Their strong mentality seems to come naturally to them, so I’ve tried to learn from the way they think and do things. They always seem to spread positivity and find positive outcomes regardless of their situation, which has been a great life lesson for me,” he explained.

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The 22-year-old has also used his time on the sidelines to study the game. Davies is eager to enhance his forward play, analysing some of the very best attacking full-backs in the world.

“I really like watching Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich – he’s obviously a right-back but he plays almost like a midfielder. He just always seems so aware of what’s around him. And I thought Alphonso Davies was also a different class against Barcelona last week. I like to learn from these players because they’re at the top of their game for a reason,” said Davies.

Although Jack Pearce and Blake are likely to regulate Davies’ minutes in the coming weeks, the duo will be delighted with the nature of his return and will look to build his match sharpness ahead of the new season, starting with Bognor’s second pre-season friendly against Horndean tomorrow.

Bognor were comfortable winners at Selsey and Davies said: “I thought we moved the ball well on a surface that suited us, and I think we could have even scored a couple more. I’m already looking forward to the next game.”