Ipswich Town full-back Leif Davis has praised the early impact the club’s first set-plays coach, Mark Hudson, has had and has discussed his and his team-mates’ growth as Premier League players.
The 24-year-old was one of two players in the startling line-up against Aston Villa and seven in the 20-matchday squad who have been part of back-to-back promotions under manager Kieran McKenna.
Davis put in another assured display in Sunday's 2-2 draw, this time working down the left-hand side with Jack Clarke, who came in for Sammie Szmodics to make his first league start, to suggest he adapting well to the higher level.
Usually known for his attacking abilities bombing forward – having notched up a record-breaking 18 assists for a Championship defender last term – Davis has already had to deal with Mohamed Salah, Savinho, Yankuba Minteh, Adama Traoré and Tyler Dibling ahead of coming up against the pace of Jamaican international Leon Bailey yesterday.
But the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne-born player, who has managed one assist across the opening six matches, says he is enjoying every minute of it.
"It's what I'm here for. I love the challenge. I'm always going to work hard,” he said.
"Like you say, it's a different task every week. Salah, Traore, players like that. And then today, obviously two good wingers; Leon Bailey and [Jaden] Philogene came on. They’re two good players that attack well and yes, I’m just revelling in it.”
Asked if he felt he is improving each game with each experience of the level, he replied: "Definitely, yes. I think I've found my feet now.
"I’m settling in really well and I think we all are. I've said it just before, I think we're all bedding in really well.
"Hopefully we start to get the points on the board and get the wins on the board as well.”
Liam Delap claimed the headlines in the Sky Sports-broadcast Super Sunday fixture with Champions League outfit Aston Villa, with his two goals, at either ends of the game, earning another precious point in a 2-2 draw.
It took the £15 million summer signing from Manchester City’s total to three goals in his first six Premier League games, having also netted against Fulham while he also went close to opening his away account when striking the post after a fine late run in the goalless draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.
And his early-season showings has certainly impressed Davis. "Yes, he's a handful,” he said.
"You see there, for the second goal, that's his quality. He uses his body and runs hard. He's a strong lad, good with the ball at his feet.
"In the second goal he sat him down really, didn't he? And then with the little scoop and just how composed he is in front of the goal.
"Yes, he missed that one in the first half. But he didn't let it get to him. He ran again and got what he deserved.”
On whether he feels they are getting close to that first Premier League win, he said: "Yes, definitely. I think we could have had it against Fulham and today as well. I think we did deserve something in the game.
"But you never know. Anything can happen. Results can happen anywhere. We're just here working hard on ourselves.”
Davis was one of six players included in the shortlist for the PFA Championship Player of the Year award for 2023/24 after breaking the assists record for a defender in the second tier, his 18 eclipsing the 14 joint-record previously held by Kieran Trippier (Burnley, 13/14) and Barry Douglas (Wolves, 17/18).
It followed a League One campaign where he also topped the defenders’ assist list with 10, though he admits the attacking side of his game has had to be balanced out with what he does in front of his own goal for the top tier.
"Yes, definitely. I've still got to do what I do going forward and doing my defensive work,” he said, "but it's more defensive than attacking this year.
"But I felt today we had a lot of control of the ball and I could attack a lot more.
"I'm just going to still do what I do, try and get assists in as well and work hard for the team.
"That's what I've got to do on my left-hand side, I've got to work hard and If I don't get the ball I'm still running. I'm still running back, I just do what I'm told to be fair and do everything I can to help the boys out.”
With Davis often on set-piece deliveries, or in the box defending them, he revealed the early impact new coach Hudson is having with the former Crystal Palace, Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town defender having come in as the club’s first dedicated set-play coach over the summer.
"You’ll see we've changed it up on the other side, where Kalvin takes them [set pieces], because he's got an unbelievable delivery as well.
"Mark’s top, in the defensive corner he's brought us on a lot, especially against them today, who are a very good team on set plays and I think we kept them quiet on those.
"But we've just got to work it game by game. We do it every Thursday, set-piece day for us, and we've got to dial in.”
Of the importance of making the most of set plays in the Premier League, where chances are not as frequent from open play as in the leagues Town have been used to playing in over recent years, he said: "Yes, definitely. It's where you get your goals from. A lot of teams get their goals from set-pieces that win the game.
"So we've just got to do that as well. We've got to try and dial in as much as we can to get set-play goals, or try and get clean sheets from set-plays, but all over the pitch you've just got to dial in.”
Home form will be another key determining factor in Town’s survival bid this season and following two draws from three opening games, including the defeat to Liverpool, he believes it does show they’re able to press home a control advantage that they might not get on their travels as much.
"Yes, definitely,” he said, "I think the last two years have shown that as well; how important it is to be here, especially with the fans, the 12th man.
"But no, like you say, it's a great place to be. I love coming here every weekend. It feels like I haven't been here in ages. It's been a month now, but you can see that atmosphere, it was incredible today, and that got me with the second goal.”
Reflecting on their start, he said: "I think a good four points on the board, but we've still got a lot more to go.
"Like the manager said, we've still got the next step to go in running and wanting to play, being brave from the back like we were last year.
"But it'll all come game by game, we're just trying to do what we can do for now and taking it game by game.”
With a trip to the London Stadium up next to face a West Ham United team who have got a first win on the board but only sit one place and one point above themselves following a testing start to new manager Julen Lopetegui's reign, he feels it will be another big challenge.
"Every game is going to be a hard game. It's going to be a different approach to a game,” he said.
"They're going to come with something different than today, so we've just got to prepare the game right and do what we can do.”
Phillips, a former Leeds United team-mate of Davis’s, returned to the side against Villa following a thigh issue and put in a positive display alongside captain Sam Morsy ahead of what will be a return to one of his former clubs at the weekend, having ended the campaign with a loan spell that ended up being a frustrating one.
He went mighty close to opening his Town goals account towards the end of the first half of Sunday’s fixture, catching a half-volley on the edge of the box perfectly before seeing Emiliano Martinez produce a fine save.
"I was hoping for him to go in, to be fair. I've played with him when I was at Leeds as well,” said Davis.
"Obviously he's had a tough few years but he never let it get to him. He always tried to do everything he could to try and play his best, but now he's happy playing with us and hopefully he can get that first goal soon.”