At 35 Years Old, Kevin Davies Is Playing His Best Football In Years

At 35 years old, Kevin Davies isn't getting younger. Extended spells on the bench last season had many wondering just what kind of impact the captain could offer Bolton Wanderers in the Championship. Right now, we're only three games into the season but Kevin Davies has played 238 of a possible 270 minutes, starting all three matches.

Last season, Davies returned a total of six league goals, just half of his best ever season (2008/2009) for Bolton Wanderers. He notched his first goal two matches in against Manchester City but it took until November (against Stoke) to get a second. Hopefully, it doesn't take Super Kev that long to get his second this season. However, on one goal and two assists so far in the Championship, he is certainly on pace for a good one.

It certainly seems that it was a moment meant to be as Kevin Davies scored Bolton Wanderers' first goal of the new season as he tallied the game winner against Derby County. The big man got a hold of one of his trademark headers before the resulting save pushed the ball back in the Captain's path. Super Kevin Davies hit the ball first time on the volley and made it 1-0.

In all honesty, it was very unfair on Kevin Davies' performance against Nottingham Forest that he didn't score. It was also pretty unfair on the captain that the referee gave him a yellow card just 35 seconds into the match, although, that might have just been the most Kevin Davies "thing" ever. Truth be told, Kevin Davies is playing his best football in years.

Davies was again instrumental on both Bolton Wanderers goals, much like Chris Eagles was against Derby. It was his his header that hit the post before falling to Chris Eagles that led to the first and it was the pressure that Kevin Davies created and the direct assist for Marvin Sordell's go-ahead strike. Especially on the second, it was the most mobile that we had seen the skipper in a long time. His rushing onto the defender, forcing the error, bringing the ball inside, and playing to Sordell showed shades of a much younger forward.

Owen Coyle will have a bit of a selection dilemma when David Ngog is fit again as he arguably provides a more mobile attacking setup than Kevin Davies. The other concern is simply the length of this season. The Trotters have 43 league games to go with the addition of cup matches and the potential of playoffs ahead of them. There will undoubtedly be questions about if Davies' body can handle it.

Yes, the season is still very young but based on what he's shown so far, Kevin Davies is playing his best football in years.