By Paul Jones
Neco Williams says he will return to Liverpool as a “more mature and improved player” after helping Fulham win promotion to the Sky Bet Championship.
Williams, who joined Fulham on loan in January, has been linked with an exit from Anfield this summer to get more regular playing time with Trent Alexander-Arnold blocking his way to the Liverpool first team.
But the Welsh full-back, who signed a five-year contract with Liverpool in 2020, said he would return to Anfield as their best player after Fulham return to the top flight.
“It was a great loan,” Williams, 21, a Premier League title winner with Liverpool in 2020, said during a McDonald’s Fun Football session.
Boooom🎯🎯 another great win for us and happy to score 2 goals😁 yeh the celebration has to be worked on I know🤦🏼♂️😅 @FulhamFC pic.twitter.com/tUNcj40qfT
— Neco Williams (@necowilliams01) March 9, 2022
“But I will return to Liverpool this summer, feeling like a more mature player and definitely an improved player. Right now I just want to play football week in and week out.
“I want to play as much as possible and gain as much experience as possible, and so far it has definitely helped me. I have improved as a player and getting promoted is a good thing to put on the CV.
Fulham entertain Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage on Tuesday and could clinch the league title.
Victory would take them to 90 points and second-placed Bournemouth would be unable to reach that tally by dropping points to Swansea.
A lot of people talk about Neco Williams as if he said he won’t be at Fulham next season. He didn’t “I don’t know where I will play next season” is the full quote. Hardly a ringing endorsement to stay at Liverpool.
— eddie (@noteddieffc) April 26, 2022
Of the winning promotion, Williams said: “First and foremost, it’s that experience of winning with a large group of players, which is hard to replicate.
“I won the Premier League and I hope I can win the championship now. I have gained a lot of experience in a short time.
“I went from starting a Champions League game against AC Milan and beating them 2-1 to playing at Barnsley, so I gained a lot of valuable and varied experience at such a young age.
This massive victory was for you nana❤️ pic.twitter.com/bz5WJl9n85
— Neco Williams (@necowilliams01) March 24, 2022
“I want to be a Premier League player. For me, I think it’s the best and toughest league in the world. And you always want to play against the best players in the world.
Williams could end the season helping Wales reach just their second World Cup, and their first since 1958.
Wales will face Scotland or Ukraine in Cardiff on June 5 to decide a place in the final in Qatar later this year.
🎙🏴 | Neco Williams on Cymru v Austria:
“It’s always amazing when we play there (Cardiff City Stadium) in front of our own fans, but that game was on another level again,”
“When we play there, it feels like the Welsh fans are our 12th man.”
[WalesOnline] pic.twitter.com/Rfe0tAya55
— welshfootie (@welshfootie) April 25, 2022
Williams said: “It means absolutely everything to play for the badge on the shirt. Every time you step onto the pitch in this shirt, it’s exciting.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing in a World Cup since I was little, and you don’t realize how difficult it is to get there. We have never been so close in our lives. We will give everything to get there.
“Playing in the World Cup will be a huge boost for the whole Welsh nation and hopefully inspire others to play.”
I fell in love with football when I was a kid. Playing for hours in the park with my mates, we had so much fun. It’s great to remember this and participate in this batch at my first McDonald’s @FunFootballEN session. Sign up for a free session in Wales at https://t.co/bEZtJCmO3y#AD pic.twitter.com/zwyKjNe8j2
— Neco Williams (@necowilliams01) April 22, 2022
To give your child their first start on the pitch and for the latest information on McDonald’s Fun Football Sessions which offer free football to children aged 5-11, visit McDonalds.com/Football and follow @FunFootballUK on Twitter and Instagram.
