Warren Feeney reckons humble hero Steven Davis has plenty left to give despite admitting it feels as if the classy Rangers midfield veteran been around forever.
The Northern Ireland captain can help the Light Blues move a step closer to the Europa League final in Gdansk - 13 years after playing his part in going all the way to the UEFA Cup final.
Former Dundee United loanee Feeney was already in the international set-up when Davis won the first of his 124 caps but he is showing no signs of slowing down as he looks to eclipse Peter Shilton’s UK record of 125 caps later this month.
The 36-year-old is a Player of the Year contender in Scotland this season with a crucial role in Steven Gerrard’s engine room to help the Ibrox men win an historic first league title in a decade.
Davis was part of the last team to win the league for Rangers in his first spell and Feeney insists there’s a lot more to come from his countryman.
The 40-year-old, now managing Bulgarian second tier side Pirin Blagoevgrad, puts it down to his work ethic at the start of his career and his grounded personality off the park.
Ahead of Gers second leg Europa League last-16 tie against Slavia Prague, Feeney said: “Steven Davis is just a machine. It seems as if he has been around for 100 years but he has shown his class.
“I don’t see why he can’t keep going. He has proved he is cool as ice and he looks after himself. And I don’t think there’s one person who has met him who would say anything different.
“He is just a very humble boy. With his wife Tracey, they are a really down-to-earth family. He has been instrumental in Rangers winning the league and, with Steven Gerrard being a midfielder as well, it just shows the confidence he has got in what Steven Davis is all about.
“He just keeps going, nothing fazes him. He just keeps going and going with the level of performance, which is exceptional to play at that level and international.
“It’s just his composure, he settles things down and keeps things simple. Nothing fazes him and he’s a great person off the pitch.”
Davis and Allan McGregor have been held up by Gerrard as examples to the younger players coming through and Feeney said: “He sets the standard.
“Steven is from the older generation where you had to work, where nowadays sometimes these kids are handed things too soon.
“Years ago, if some of the stories came out now you could make a fortune with the history of what went on with these coaches and the first-team pros, but that’s what made us what we were.
“It shows that he is in the gym. You look at (Cristiano) Ronaldo as well, first in the gym and last to leave, but I think you have to.
“It’s not just like some of these kids nowadays, get in your Mercedes at 12 o’clock and drive home. If you want to be the best, you have to stay the best.”
