Rhys Willliams was crowned Boro's Young Player of the Year by the middlesbrough official supporters club earlier this week. The twenty-one year old Australian international had a stand out pre-season, before earning himself a place in both Gareth Southgate and Gordon Strachan's first choice Boro midfield. At a recent community event, ComeOnboro.com's Elle Brunton caught up with the Boro's latest academy success.
EB: Obviously the play-off campaign is now at an end...
RW: (jumping in) It's done now. Saturday, we let ourselves down, we embarrassed ourselves, I know that wasn't how I wanted it [the play-off hopes] to end.
EB: We keep hearing about this pelvic problem you have, Strachan said you're not training at the moment, how bad is the injury?
RW: It feels like its going to snap everytime I run!
"I'm not really training.
"I'm getting through games with injections, it's not ideal but I'm getting through it.
"Maybe in the summer I'll get it fixed, if there's time, I'll do what I need to do to be fit next season."
EB: So where does that leave your World cup chances?
RW: It's obviously hard, the Australian manager needs us to train...
"I'm lucky that Strachan is letting me play and recover myself, Guess I'll have to see.
"But i've got time to get myself fit, I'll get a rest and hopefully I'll be on the plane."
EB: Does that mean you might not play the last two games of Boro's season?
RW: Obviously I want to play every game we have to keep myself in. It was hard the way we went out [of the play-off race] we have got to go out and show what we can do.
EB: Everyone talks about the Scottish invasion, but we've got three Aussies plus Killen, and only three players who are actually Scottish...
RW: Ha that's true! I hadn't thought about!
EB: I suppose with Strachan though you're still outnumbered!
RW: Yeh its the manager though, being Scottish as well, but there's good banter with the Scottish lads, they tend to stick together. They all come in and moan!
EB: You've managed to retain your place in midfield, which last time we spoke is what you told me you wanted...
RW: Yes, I like playing in there. I'm not a flair player, if you watch me, I mop up, that's my job.
"Maybe people have the idea that I shouldn't be because some are still seeing me as just a defender.
EB: But you play in defence for Australia, is it strange switching back?
RW: Yeh it is a little, but manager the Australia manager might put me into the midfield as well now he's seen me there.
Personally I would rather rest Williams against Coventry and Leicester and give him the best chance to get fit for the World Cup. While we have no affinity with the Aussies (other than providing them with goalkeepers!) the experience can only help his development as a player, and that will benefit Boro in our 2010-11 promotion campaign.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 23/4/2010
No comments:
Post a Comment