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Liverpool’s young defender Rhys Williams had a brutal introduction to men’s football during his one-season loan from the Kidderminster Harriers, but it was his creation, according to the man who coached him in football outside of the league.
Russ Penn, who was an assistant manager with the Harriers last season while the 19-year-old Williams was on loan with the West Midlands team in the National League North, describes a baptism of fire for the Preston-born youngster, to who calls ‘baby face’.
Penn is surprised that just six months after leaving Aggborough Stadium, Williams is playing for Liverpool in the Champions League, first for a brief cameo at Ajax and then for an hour at Anfield on Tuesday after replacing the injured. Brazilian Fabinho in their 2- 0 victory against FC Midtjylland in Group D.
Jurgen Klopp has led the applause for the central defender, with Liverpool stars Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson on Instagram.
And whatever awaits Williams, who is now expected to be part of the Reds’ central defensive pair during Fabinho’s absence with a hamstring injury and Virgil van’s long-term injury. Dijk, he won’t look anything like what hit him in the lower leagues.
“When you walked through the door, a six-foot-five-inch baby face, I thought this could make you or go broke,” said Penn, now the manager of Kidderminster.
And the Harriers boss admits Williams had an ‘unreliable first six weeks’ as he struggled to come to terms with the speed and physicality of the game.
“He conceded a couple of soft goals, he was being bullied, he was always on the court,” said the former midfielder, who has 500 League Two games under his belt.
It was difficult for him to catch up. It’s very different from U23 football. ‘
Kidderminster’s relentless website documented Williams’ struggles. He was blamed for being ‘caught by a long ball’ four minutes from the end of his debut against Leamington, which led to a 2-2 draw.
A week later, he was “knocked down too easily” when Gloucester City tied their way to a 3-2 victory at Kidderminster.
“After the first three games we thought ‘we take him out and give him a break or hope he learns from his mistakes.” We left him in and he did. ‘
It all must have felt a far cry from the relatively pampered surroundings of Liverpool’s academy at Kirby and the high-end training facilities at Melwood.
But Williams hugged him, stayed at the players’ home during his stay, and saw his mom and dad on the weekends, as they traveled to each game, home and away.
Penn, who played for York City, Burton Albion, Wrexham and Cheltenham Town, among others, believes the experience was a great help to Williams, who had the technical ability and stature but lacked the physical presence in his early remarks in the Aggborough Stadium.
The turning point came for Darlington.
It was a five hour round trip by coach. It was a tight game at Darlington Arena, which the Harriers lost 1-0 with Williams taken out in preparation for goal by a brutal blow to the face.
“When he got knocked out at Darlington, he was sitting in the dressing room with his nose across his face,” Penn recalled. The boys laughed. This is the Northern National League. Welcome to the real world. But he dusted himself off and moved on.
‘They need to be beaten up a bit. They need to learn the physical side of the game. Center forwards will leave an elbow in.
“With us he suffered a concussion, broke his nose, was beaten and then expelled at Brackley.”
The Harriers ‘website described Williams’ firing as an “unnecessary and reckless challenge,” but at least the young man was hardening.
Penn and his coaches knew that Williams already had fantastic technical ability, so they worked with him on the physical side of defense, being strong, timing jumps for header, ready for critical moments in the game.
And they were hugely impressed by his commitment and progress during the 42 games he played for Kidderminster.
You have to learn fast. The last six months that he was with us we saw a really composed and imposing middle half. Everyone was asking about him, ‘Penn said.
“It was the best loan period we have had at the club. It’s great for us. He gave 100% to Kidderminster. And I like to think that wherever he goes he will have learned something from us.
Kidderminster tried to bring Williams back on loan this season, but Liverpool wanted to keep the youngster on their senior team.
“It’s no surprise we couldn’t get it back,” laughed Penn. “We asked him if he was coming back, but instead he was going to Ajax.”
Liverpool saw Williams at Kidderminster every two weeks. They had accepted the loan because academy director Alex Ingelthorpe and Julian Ward, Liverpool’s director of transfers and roads, wanted him to have a different footballing experience in his education.
They certainly succeeded and the pair were very impressed by Williams’ appetite to learn that he was rewarded with a new five-year contract at Anfield this summer.
Liverpool now face a packed schedule of Premier League and Champions League matches with only one fit first-choice center, Joe Gomez, until the transfer window opens in January.
The Reds could push midfielders Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum into action at the baseline.
However, given Williams’ performance against the Danes and his appearance against Ajax, as well as against Lincoln City and Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, it could be seen as a viable option.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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