Sean Davis has paid tribute to Jean Tigana, the Frenchman who has transformed him from a Division One midfielder to one of Fulham's star players and taken him to the brink of his first England cap.
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| Fulham midfielder Sean Davis thanks Jean Tigana |
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The former England Under-21 international is expected to make his debut for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s senior side in the friendly against Australia on Wednesday night.
The 23-year-old reflected on his meteoric rise - he has played in all four divisions with the Cottagers - and revealed the influence club boss Tigana has had on his career.
As a player, Tigana was a star midfielder in the great French national side of the mid-80s and as a manager he has moulded Davis into the player he is today.
“I owe a lot to Jean,” Davis said. “He played in the same position I do for France and his clubs and he’s been a great help to me.
“I was in and out before he came to the club, playing one week then being rested the next.
“But he stuck me in and I’ve played near enough every game since he’s been at the club.
“He developed the likes of Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet and always liked to play the young players at Monaco.
“He likes to develop young players. If there were two players, one 30 and one 22, and both with the same ability - he’d put the young player in.”