Davenport at West Ham

Simon Grayson is taking a cautious stance with the trial of former West Ham defender, Calum Davenport.

The 27-year-old has been out of the game for a year now after being the victim of  a knife attack that has left him in need of intense rehabilitation and leaves him a long way from full fitness. Davenport was reported to have lost half of his blood after the attack twelve months ago.

Admirably, the club are currently trying to help Davenport back to full fitness as his trial at Leeds United’s Thorp Arch training complex continues.

Whilst remaining cautious, Simon Grayson did concede that Davenport is the kind of top quality player Leeds United would benefit from;

“He’s had a long time out of football – 12 months out with a serious injury that’s stopping him from playing at all,

“The deal won’t be concluded in the next week or two because he’s quite a long way from being fit, but we’re trying to get him fit.

“If everything goes well then I think we’ve got a player on our hands who can get back to the level he was at with a top club like West Ham.”

You have to admire the determination of Calum Davenport in trying to get his career back on track. Hard work and determination are important attributes for any player, and few will understand them quite as well as Calum now does.

I think Simon Grayson is right to offer the lad every chance to regain full fitness, and if he does end up playing for Leeds United, the lad will understand how lucky he has been and be eager to repay the club and manager for their generosity.

I sincerely hope his fitness levels improve and he’s offered a contract with the club as he’s exactly the kind of player we need. His injury does remain a concern, but Leeds fans should remember that Lucas Radebe was once shot before he moved to Leeds, and it was our clubs help during that time in protecting his family that made the chief feel so well-loved and at home in this great city.