​FORMER Derby County captain Michael Johnson has backed new signing Ben Davies to successfully make the step to the Championship with the Rams.

Davies completed his move to Pride Park last night, joining from Notts County for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £350,000.

And Johnson, now youth team coach at Notts, believes the attacking midfielder will be the best dead ball specialist to play for Derby since Spanish playmaker Inigo Idiakez.

Davies, who has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Rams, scored 16 goals in the Magpies’ League Two title-winning campaign last season and also provided 17 assists.

The 29-year-old has netted eight goals so far this term.

“Outside the Championship, Ben is probably the best deal ball taker in the Football League,” said Johnson, who played 150 times for Derby between August 2003 and February 2008.

“Certainly in League One and League Two, his delivery is second to none.

“The amount of assists he has provided, as well as his goals, have been very valuable for Notts and he will be a big loss for us.

“I think Derby fans will be excited about this signing and they probably won’t have seen anybody who can deliver a set piece like he can since Inigo Idiakez was at the club.

“He might not be as clever as he was on the ball but he can whip it in from all sorts of angles that you wouldn’t think possible.

“He is also a major threat from 25 yards, from open play as well as set pieces, and has got a good eye for a pass.

“I would like to think he can make the step up. That is the question everyone will be asking.

“Having done it myself, I know it is a big jump but I think he has got the quality and that he is coming into a team that will suit him.

“They like to get the ball down and pass it around. He will get the ball at his feet and that is when the Derby fans will, hopefully, see him shine.”

Notts had been determined to keep hold of one of their most prized assets and rejected the Rams’ initial advances but Davies made his intentions clear by handing in a written transfer request yesterday morning.

He later passed a medical at Derby’s Moor Farm training ground and should be available to make his debut against Nottingham Forest at Pride Park tomorrow (1pm).

“We’re delighted that we’ve been able to agree a deal with Notts County and bring Ben to Derby County,” said Rams manager Nigel Clough.

“His set pieces are lethal and attract a lot of attention, quite rightly so, but he has plenty more to his game.

“But we have said for some time now we’ve not had a player on our books that can consistently deliver a quality set play and Ben certainly has the ability to do that.

“He is an energetic midfielder, he can make things happen and we’re confident he can make the step up to the Championship, having watched him on several occasions in the last year.”

Notts CEO Jim Rodwell said: “Everyone at Notts was determined to keep Ben at Meadow Lane and we did everything that we could to persuade him to stay.

“It’s just a shame that the lure of joining Derby proved too much for the player to resist.

“When a player makes it clear that he wants to move, there is only so much you can do as a club to prevent him from going and we reluctantly decided that we will not stand in Ben’s way.”

Birmingham-born Davies began his career with Walsall before moving on to Kidderminster Harriers, Chester City and Shrewsbury Town.

He moved to Meadow Lane on a Bosman free transfer in the summer of 2009 and made a total of 80 appearances for Notts, scoring 24 goals.

Johnson said: “I can’t fault his drive and determination while he has been with Notts but the chance to play in front of more people and on a bigger stage obviously caught his eye.

“Notts County fans will be sad to see him go but I hope he goes with their best wishes.

“He helped them secure the League Two title and leaves the club in a better place than when he arrived. He has been a major part of that and, hopefully, Derby fans will see the best of him.”