Pompey skipper: My hope that Ben Davies will stay

Davies is keen to remain at Fratton Park for another year, yet agreement on a new deal with the club has still to be reached.

The veteran is seeking an improved contract in recognition of an outstanding maiden campaign which has yielded eight individual player-of-the-season awards.

Signed on the eve of the campaign for 12 months, other first-team regulars earn considerably more.

Irrespective of financial talks, Doyle would welcome the continuing Blues presence of his close pal.

The pair were formerly team-mates at Sheffield United and have retained their friendship on the south coast since their arrivals last summer.

In football terms alone, the Pompey skipper believes his team-mate has been an outstanding performer under Paul Cook.

Doyle said: ‘I would like to see Ben stay, he is a massive part of what we are as a team.

‘He has won a lot of individual awards and is a great professional.

‘I am hopeful him staying is something which will probably happen.

‘Ben is in the gym every day, usually one of the first in and always the last out, working and training hard. He is a machine.

‘His attitude is spot on, it is brilliant, and Ben is naughty around the dressing room as well. He’s good to have around, causing hassle!

‘As a performer this season he has been outstanding and got my vote as player of the year.

‘He has actually struggled a bit lately with a few knocks and it was great to see him back into the team against Northampton.

‘Coming from Sheffield United, we have been close for a few years now, our families are quite close, too, not living far from each other down here.

‘In the summer we travelled in together up and down the motorway, we have a good bond and ended up sharing a hotel room together before both of us found somewhere to live.

‘I am very hopeful he will stay here.’

Davies is 35 this month, while Doyle is aged 34.

They are the oldest players in Cook’s squad by some margin, yet continue to be mainstays of a side which has reached the League Two play-offs.

Cook recently rested Davies for two matches with an eye on the play-off campaign.

Similarly, Doyle was given the role of an unused substitute against Northampton last week.

And the captain believes it was the correct decision.

He added: ‘I think the manager was afraid I might get in a fracas or something like that!

‘It was great not having to play, it now sets me up for the next two games. I’m raring to go.’