Neco Williams believes his decision to quit Liverpool on loan has already been vindicated after less than two months.
The Reds’ academy graduate has made 33 appearances for the Anfield club but the right-back, 20, who can also play on the left, reckons he had to quit for regular games in January with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of him in Jurgen Klopp's pecking order. Williams opted for Fulham and has made nine starts for the runaway Championship leaders, where he has contributed two goals and two assists already. Williams, preparing for Wales' World Cup play-off semi-final, assessed: “I’m really enjoying it.
“As footballers, you just want to play as much football as possible. For me at Liverpool, it’s going to be limited game-time because of the players ahead of me and the world-class players I’m with. Coming to Wales previously has been about trying to keep up fitness but for this camp I’m playing regular football, enjoying it, scoring, assisting, so it’s going well and I feel I’m in the best possible shape I can be in.
“My main focus was to play as much as possible and get that match rhythm and match fitness. You can only do that by playing regular football. That's what I'm doing at the minute and I'm loving it. I've scored a few goals, getting assists, so everything's going smoothly so far. I'm playing and I'm keep fit.”
Williams is in Cardiff preparing for a one-legged World Cup play-off semi-final against Austria on Thursday where the hosts aim to take a major step towards their first World Cup since 1958. Defender Williams, who has 17 caps and two goals, said: “It’s been a long wait, a long time since Wales qualified for a World Cup.
“It would mean everything. You think about it all the time. As players you always want to play in the biggest tournaments on the biggest stages. We have an unbelievable chance of qualifying and doing that. Hopefully we can do that and showcase to the world what a team we have and the quality of players.
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“For most of us it would be dreams come true, we’ve always dreamt of going to a World Cup and playing against the best teams in the world.
“If we win Thursday, then we’re one step closer to the World Cup. I know the whole Welsh nation is supporting us, all the fans around Wales are with us and I know the atmosphere is going to be incredible.
“Just as much as the older senior lads want to qualify, it’s exactly the same for us younger lads. We’re all in the same boat, we all want to qualify and it would mean everything to us.”
