Keinan Davis, 27-year-old forward, drawn one hell of a comeback after being let go by Stevenage. He has since gone on to score key game-winning goals in Serie A such as this impressive double against Internazionale at the legendary San Siro. Davis equalized for Udinese, scoring their first goal from the penalty spot. He followed that up by setting up the winning goal, which made him the man of the match. His story is one of grit and resolve — and he’s just getting started.
Davis struggled in his first season at Udinese, only appearing six times. Now he has a new opportunity to restart his career and make all the doubters eat their words once again. This opportunity constitutes bright news after a run of misfortune, with a release from Stevenage followed by a fleeting period at Biggleswade. His short stewardship at the picturesque Aston Villa was the most formative. For 87 appearances, he continued trudging along, feeling like an outsider at the Premier League club.
The burden is on the No 9,” Davis said, driving home his self-focus first mission as a striker.
These days, he says, he’s happy to be in Udine, where the pace of life is what he calls “tranquillo e amichevole”—“friendly and quiet.” Living there with his partner and daughter brings him peace, allowing him to focus on football while enjoying life off the pitch. This newfound peace of mind has certainly played a role in his recent string of successes.
Davis attributes his current form to his physical attributes: “I bring that physical side to Serie A. It is not like the Premier League. It is very physical in England, quite transitional.” What he notices are the issue playing styles between the two leagues. This makes sense, he explains, because Serie A has historically been more focused on a strong defensive approach.
He touched on his tactical evolution since coming to Italy. “When I was defending in England, it was not really on my mind to drop in on the No 6 and now press here or press there,” he explained. However, there’s a divide in how much latitude you have to actually deliver on those numbers. Here the big, powerful manager is a stickler about that. The tactical side is easily where I have grown the most.
Still, Davis had planned very carefully for moments just like the one he found himself in against Internazionale.…In pre-season I’d been practicing penalties every day, just kind of waiting for this moment really. I’d seen a lot of guys get a penalty like this coming sooner or later so I was totally ready for it,’ he revealed. His hard work was rewarded when he converted his penalty and went on to prove himself as a real asset in the most crucial moments.
Especially at the beginning of his career, Davis was used to operating as an underdog. “I was not even the first-choice striker. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy had made his debut at 16 in the Premier League,” he recalled. I just had this sense that I had just shown up out of nowhere. I got a trial, got signed. I felt like I wasn’t really supposed to be there if that makes sense.
His journey has not been without challenges. After his release from Stevenage, his identity and purpose disappeared. “Everyone in the area knew that I played for Stevenage. It was kind of my identity, which is not good. When you get released, what are you now? I had to work in my cousin’s barber shop. That was a very difficult period,” he shared.
Even with these obstacles stacked against him, Davis has an uncompromising motivation to show that he belongs. “I always had it in my stomach, that feeling that I had to show people. It is a driving force inside me, really,” he expressed.
Now, after thriving at Udinese and fulfilling his promise as a player there, Davis continues to dream big and seeks to accomplish even greater things in his career. He is still committed to becoming a better player and leaving his indelible mark on the game as the proverbial last one standing on the field.
“Every number 9 wears a number,” he teased looking ahead to future plans. “I definitely have one that I have never reached before but I will keep it to myself for now.”
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