Simon Davies

Simon Davies feels his career will blossom again now under fellow Welshman Chris Coleman.

The 27-year-old prepares to play his 37th game for Wales tomorrow in Belfast against Northern Ireland, just a couple of weeks after a transfer window move from Everton to Coleman's Fulham.

It ended a frustrating, injury-dogged spell on Merseyside for the £3.5million star, who believes Coleman can resurrect his career.

Davies said: "Moving to Fulham was good for me, I was excited by the prospect as soon as I heard they were interested in me.

"My Everton boss David Moyes understood the situation I was in, he tried to help me make it work and I appreciated that. He said he'd let me go when he signed a replacement and he was true to his word.

"It all worked out well in the end and I am very excited now about the future."

He added: "I had injuries and problems and it was tough for me after a couple of slow years at Tottenham. I hoped things would work out at Everton, but they didn't. That happens in football.

"You have to move on. Now the early signs at Fulham are good, I want to stay injury-free and work to get them into the top ten in the Premiership.

"The big factor was that Chris Coleman was manager. I have played alongside him for Wales and he knows all about me and has confidence in me.

"He has given me a massive confidence boost. I've only been there a couple of weeks and it is just great to play for someone like Cookie (Chris Coleman).

"He wants to play to my strengths. He aims to get the ball down and for people to pass it. It's attacking football that will suit all the aspects of my game and I will be able to fit in very quickly."

As for Wales, Davies is looking forward to another scoring game in Belfast, the Haverfordwest-born midfielder having got the first in Wales' 3-2 win in the Province in 2005.

He said: "Last time we played in Belfast we had a great win, and it could have been a lot more. We missed a penalty and that would have made it 3-0 by the break.

"In the end we got the win we deserved and I recall scoring the first goal, that was my last goal for Wales so it would be nice to get another one at Windsor Park.

"This is a difficult place. Especially for night games because that's when they beat Spain and England. The support for Northern Ireland is fantastic, so we know it will be tough.

"Now we need to get a decent result to send us into the double header next month against the Republic of Ireland and San Marino.

"This will be a make or break time, I have always felt it was us or the Irish to get close to Germany and the Czechs in our group. If we have any aspirations of qualifying, we have to win in Dublin, and this will be a good warm-up."