Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry is backing central defender Curtis Davies to show his true qualities after the former West Brom player admitted he performed "like a pub player" on his debut against Leicester.

Davies, signed initially on a year long loan from the Baggies, had a nightmare time in the Carling Cup clash - his first senior action for more than six months.

He has already written off his chances of being involved in the league clash with Tottenham at White Hart Lane when Martin Laursen is expected to return alongside Zat Knight at the heart of the back four.

But Barry has no doubts the England Under-21 player will go onto show why Martin O'Neill brought him to Villa in a deal which could eventually be worth more than £8 million to Albion.

Barry said: "Curtis has given himself a bit of stick but he'll learn from that game. It wasn't the great start he wanted to his Villa career - but I know Curtis will show everyone what a good player he is.

"He has high expectations for himself and that's something we should all have. The manager has brought him in because he adds quality to the squad and that hasn't changed after one match.

"Curtis will come good and what we have to remember  is that we were all below par in the Leicester game. We all have to bounce back. It's easy enough to talk about it but we have to do it on Monday at Spurs."

Barry wants Villa to bounce back in positive style and show the form which has lifted them to eighth spot in the league.

"We have to look at our overall performances this season and it's been a good start. That's what we have to remember. We all have to lift each other," he said. "The manager will play his part, I will as captain and so will the other players.

"We can't afford to get too down after the Leicester defeat. We're looking for a response to Wednesday night. The important thing is to learn from the game."

O'Neill admitted the Leicester reversal was the lowest he has felt at Villa since the 3-1 home defeat by Manchester City early into his reign with the midlands club.

He said: "I'm sure the players felt it as badly as I do. I'm a spokesman for myself and I'm sure Gareth Barry felt it badly because he wants to win something for the football club.

"Hopefully it was a big one-off. It's not like the defeat at Manchester City, where we knew we could fight back in another league game, which we did against Everton.

"We are out of the Carling Cup and Wednesday night was just really disappointing, I can't express it any other way."