Williams Well Ahead Of Schedule At United

Ro-Shaun Williams is the final interviewee in an exclusive five-part series focusing on Manchester United's young stars hoping for a big 2016/17 season...

It is remarkable to consider Ro-Shaun Williams is still eligible for another season of Under-18 Academy football as he is very much ahead of schedule in terms of his development.

The Manchester-born centre-back does not turn 18 until September 2016 and yet emerged as a key figure in the Under-21 title success last term, while also twice being named a first-team substitute for big home cup games against West Ham (FA Cup) and Liverpool (Europa League). A quiet personality who is maturing all the time on the field, he must deal with big expectations for the upcoming campaign.

While Williams is again likely to be called upon for FA Youth Cup action - as is the norm at United while a youngster still qualifies, regardless of his progress up the ladder - he will surely be looking upwards from the outset. "My aim is just to work hard and play for the Under-21s," he insisted. "Hopefully, I’ll have a solid season and see if I can push for the first team. I took in a lot of good experiences over the course of the season and can hopefully build on them next term."

By keeping his feet firmly on the ground, Williams displays the traits long associated with the club's youth products. He has seen his pals grasp their first-team chance and appreciates just how close he came to making his debut at such a young age. "It’s just about keeping your head down," he said. "Hopefully, it’s then a case of getting my opportunity and taking it. I was on the bench against West Ham first and it was just a great feeling. I was very happy. I was just a case of the atmosphere being different. You hear the crowd on the TV and when you’re in the stadium but you can’t really appreciate it. When you’re involved, the atmosphere just feels clearer and better."

The noise of the crowd would not have been anything new to the defender. He watches most of the games from the Stretford End, like his Academy colleagues, and it is all part of the learning process, absorbing the surroundings. "We go to all the first-team games at Old Trafford so we can learn stuff and it’s a case of getting used to being there," he admitted. "You see what you can learn from the game. You study different situations and different teams, and you watch the players in your own position. In my case, Daley Blind and Chris Smalling played well throughout the season – they were solid and kept lots of clean sheets."

Like Marcus Rashford and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Williams is another prospect to emerge from schoolboy side Fletcher Moss. Brought up in nearby Whalley Range as a United fan, he feels completely at ease with his local club and believes he is in the right place to continue his development.

"I probably used to spend more time here [at the Aon Training Complex] than with my parents as I was living in digs so I was always here with the boys - Axel [Tuanzebe], Marcus [Rashford] and the others," he said. "It’s just like home really."

When asked to rate his own season, which was pretty exceptional, Williams was honest enough to admit he still he has a long way to go. "It was good," he said. "It was quite a long season with a lot of hard work. I did a lot of good things but there are still many things I can improve on. It was a good experience winning the Under-21 league, away to Tottenham. We should have put the game to bed earlier as we went 2-0 up but they got back to 2-2. We won it in the true Manchester United way, with a last-minute goal. There is no better way to win the league than that."

Williams is not alone in crediting the work done by title-winning coach Warren Joyce and recognising the role he plays in young players' development.

"Warren pushes us every day in training," said Williams. "We are 100 per cent flat out in training so, when it comes to the games, everyone knows their roles and just go 100 per cent into the match until the very last minute. Warren is quite tough with everyone really but he’s a good manager because he gets the best out of players. When they do get to step up to the first team, they’re ready and it’s shown with Marcus, Cameron and Tim [Fosu-Mensah]. They’ve all gone up to the first team and done well."

You would get slim odds on Williams being one of the next in line for a senior debut if he can impress new United manager Jose Mourinho. As the teenager himself stresses, his first priority is to continue making his mark for Joyce's team and, after all, many of his peers are expected to be in Under-18 action in August. Whatever happens, the classy centre-back remains one to watch.

Credit: Manutd.com