Source: Northern_Echo
Williams lays his World Cup hat on Australian soil
RHYS WILLIAMS hopes to head off to the World Cup finals next summer. It could have been with England but Australia the place of his birth and where he was brought up is the country he intends to represent in South Africa.
The Middlesbrough man has risen to prominence over the last 12 months, having impressed during his loan stint at Burnley and graduated into the heart of Gareth Southgates midfield.
He now intends to drive Boro towards promotion to the Premier League before heading to the World Cup finals next June.
It might have been different.
Only a few months ago he was torn between pledging his allegiance to Australia after spending five years playing for Wales at various levels.
He qualified to play for Wales through his grandfather, but Williams could have played for England, Wales, India or Australia.
Having made the decision, though, he is now focused on impressing at club level so that he keeps his place in Pim Verbeeks plans for next years World Cup.
I want to be involved and keep getting in the squads. I have to do well and hopefully get to the World Cup, said Williams A long time ago I thought about playing for England and if they had watched me I might have had a decision to make. But I am happy where I am, to be playing for the country where I was born and bred.
I only made the final decision on Australia three months ago. Wales came knocking on the door and I dont regret playing for them and I was proud to put on the shirt.
I enjoyed every game I played for them and Brian Flynn, the manager, helped my career massively. But coming from Australia it was always in my heart. It means a lot to my family back home as well. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity when they came knocking.
Australia have already qualified for the finals, so if he stays injury-free there is every chance that he will be playing right-back for his country next summer. It could, though, quite easily have been different.
Williams actually arrived in England five years ago, having had his trip to the UK funded by the semi-pro club he was playing for at the time, ECU Joondalup.
Joondalup have also been responsible for handing young players Shane Lowry and Chris Herd to Aston Villa.
They paid for me to come over and my brother is still at the club, said Williams.
They have pushed four or five players overseas. Every time I go back I go and see them and watch them play. I train with them to keep fit so I do keep in contact with them.
Having only turned 21 and spent the last five years in England, Williams has already experienced a lot in life, something that has helped him settle into life in the Boro midfield.
It will be a question of who plays alongside him against Ipswich today, when Gary ONeil returns from a hernia problem, highlighting the regard there is for him from Southgate.
