Reunited!

BACK IN THE FOLD . . . forward Craig Davies has returned to SportsDirect.com Park 10 years after first signing for the club

CRAIG Davies turned down the chance to extend his stay at Scunthorpe - in preference of a regular rocket from his mentor John Sheridan.

A decade on from first signing for the club, the 31-year-old striker returned from holiday this week to pen a two-year deal.

It reunites the ex-Wolves, Brighton and Barnsley man with a boss he has netted 38 goals in 100 games for across spells at both Athletic and Chesterfield.

And if Sheridan can draw out similar scoring form from a player who helped Scunthorpe consolidate their play-off spot this season, then the former Wales international won't be complaining when cajoled from the touchline.

"I have a decent relationship with the manager and he's a good guy," said the forward, who is primed to form an imposing all-Welsh strike partnership with Aaron Amadi-Holloway.

"There wasn't too much to think about, to be honest.

"I did well under him last time. I know what he's about and he knows what I'm about, so hopefully he can bring the best out of me again.

"I can still hear the manager in my head from six years ago! But I don't mind when managers are like that, as long as they get the best out of me."

Davies, who came close to signing for Sheridan last season while at Wigan, struggled to get game-time in 2016-17.

Despite his limited time on the field for Scunthorpe, the club he signed for after leaving Wigan in January, Davies was involved in extension talks with the Glanford Park club, but instead opted to come back to Athletic.

"It was a strong possibility, to be fair," said Davies of a potential move back to the Iron, where most of his 21 appearances without scoring were as a substitute late on in matches for a club who out-scored everyone except Sheffield United.

"But I made my decision to come back here. I decided straight after coming back from holiday, on Wednesday. There were one or two bits of interest before I went away, but Scunthorpe was the one I was looking at. I wish everyone the best there, as it's a good club."

ARRIVAL

Davies' arrival is an eye-catching one for Athletic and with pre-season now only a week away, he is eager to get stuck in to get up to full speed fitness-wise.

"I want to crack on here now," he added. "I want a good pre-season and to get some games under my belt in the summer to bring the form back that has made me do well at certain times in my career.

"I am 31, but I am looking after myself better than I was at 21 or 25. I am learning a lot more about myself as I get older, so I don't see why I can't get that form back.

"There have been a lot of ups and downs, some good times and some low times. But it is a learning curve.

"I am just looking forward to the season ahead."

Ex-Blackburn striker Mason Fawns (18) has been confirmed as signing a one-year deal with Athletic.