Davies close to fitness

Simon Davies hopes to be back for Fulham's New Year fixtures after an injury setback.

Fulham midfielder targets return against Arsenal

Simon Davies hopes to play a part in Fulham's New Year fixtures after overcoming an injury setback. The 32-year-old midfielder made his first league appearance of the season at Swansea earlier in December after recovering from a long-term knee complaint. Davies has been sidelined since with a back problem but hopes to return against Arsenal on 2nd January. "It was great to be back against Swansea but my back gave me a little bit of grief afterwards," he told the club's official website. "It was from the rigours of trying to get back and fit again. After the Swansea game I carried on training the next week and it just got too much and I couldn't really function. "I needed a week to 10 days to rest and strengthen it and I've been back in training for the last three or four days. "I'm just building up my fitness and I'm hoping to be involved, if not for the Arsenal game, then the Charlton game. That's what I'm hoping for."