COLLEAGUE Paul Hince surprised more than a few people when he picked Bolton striker Kevin Davies for his England team to start the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign.

I was not one of them.

The 27-year-old Yorkshireman was a Premiership ever-present last season and I saw the bulk of his games as he dragged his top-class career back from the brink of oblivion.

My increasing feeling as England sank to an unlucky, but deserved Euro 2004 defeat against Portugal last Thursday was how desperately they needed a 6ft powerhouse front-runner.

A man capable of bullying big central defenders who were having a joyride out- muscling and out-jumping quick, but small strikers like Michael Owen and Darius Vassell.

A man capable of rattling defenders and midfielders as they used possession almost without challenge to unleash a stream of attacks which pushed England deeper and deeper into their own half. A man capable of winning the long high clearances which England had to use to clear their lines.

A man capable of operating in a packed penalty box with the physical presence to make himself space instead of being blocked into anonymity by bigger men. A man like Kevin Davies.

Disaster

England's much-vaunted midfield was an overall disaster in Portugal. They couldn't give the ground service needed by the likes of Owen whose only goal in the championship, well-taken though it was, came courtesy of a Portuguese defensive mistake.

Sven-Goran Eriksson must now look forward to his squad for England's only World Cup warm-up game against Ukraine in Newcastle on August 18.

They aren't going to be a bunch of shrinking violets, especially at the back, and England need a physical presence up front. Emile Heskey has never punched his weight and Eriksson's options are few.

But watching England against Portugal was reminiscent of Bolton games during parts of last season when they were penned back. Davies could win the long clearances under pressure and hold the ball until help got forward.

He could fight his corner in the penalty box and most, most important, he could and did win a lot of possession.

Tackles

He was Bolton's first line of defence and his jarring tackles helped to earn him six yellow cards. He conceded nearly 100 fouls in the season. How many tackles did Owen and Vassell make?

Even big defenders became wary of Davies last season. Men more used to dishing it out found themselves on the receiving end and didn't like it.

Consequently, if he didn't win the ball, the fact that Davies was coming in with a tackle forced defenders to hack clear, often into touch or to a Bolton player. There was never time to look around and pick a pass with Davies around.

Okay, he's not an outstandingly class act. But total class isn't always everything. He's got something that England need at the moment and there is little doubt that he's going to be a better player next season.

Take a look, Sven.

Davies for England - have your say.

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