It has taken Steve Davis a year to become the best Northern Ireland player of his generation.
On the day that the football mourned the passing of George Best, the finest Northern Ireland player of any generation, Davis provided a touch of magic that took us back to the future.
The goal by Davis gave Aston Villa a 1-0 victory against Charlton Athletic on Saturday and gave a timely reminder of how class can emerge during even the most mundane of matches. Best, who died on Friday afternoon, would have approved.
"George Best was a legend in our country as one of the greatest players of all time and he will be sadly missed," Davis said: "I watched videos of him when I was a boy growing up in Ballymena and I knew just what a great talent he was. Everybody growing up in Northern Ireland when I was a kid wanted to be the next George Best, but that's a pretty tough task."
But Davis is already learning to deal with fame and success. His value has increased to such an extent that, already, some of Europe's most successful clubs are looking at the young Irishman. It was not just the goal that separated him from everyone else on Saturday; it was his all-round performance.
It helps that he is playing alongside Gavin McCann and James Milner but Davis has emerged as the the brightest young British player in the Premiership. Not far behind is Milner, another young player who has been touted as the next great superstar.
Milner has watched Davis at close quarters and is impressed with how his teammate has developed as a person and as a player.
"Steven is a quality player and he is showing it," Milner said. "No one needs to say anything about him because he is just doing it on the pitch and that's the best way to do it. He comes in training, works hard and gets on with his football and that's what you have got to do really. He is a great lad as well and he enjoys his football and if you enjoy your football you are going to put in good performances.
"Sometimes it is difficult. There is a lot of hype especially when you are doing as well as Davo is. Look at Rooney and how much pressure he is under. Davo is getting a lot of plaudits and deservedly so. But I am sure he can deal with that pressure.
"He's just got to learn to keep putting in the performances he is now. He's got players around him like Gavin McCann and Eirik Bakke whom he can learn from. He is not the sort of player who won't listen. He'll take it on board and do what he thinks right.
"He has got the experience around him. With the talent he has got, he is playing international football as well. He is getting so much experience. Getting experience when you are young is fantastic and can only stand you in good stead for the future."
