Footballing honours just keep on coming for shocked Ashley

NEWLY-CROWNED Welsh footballer of the year Ashley Williams is in line to captain his country for the first time against Scotland tomorrow.

The Swansea City centre-back received the top honour at an awards ceremony in Cardiff on Wednesday where he was also named Welsh club player of the year.

Williams beat off competition from PFA player of the year Ryan Giggs among others to clinch the awards.

And afterwards he admitted his surprise at receiving such prestigious recognition.

"Things have moved very quickly for me and I am a little shocked," he said.

"It is an honour to win such an award when you think exactly who has won it in the past.

"I have seen what it is like to live a normal life. I am not trying to say that lads who have been at clubs as professionals all their lives do not understand what it is like in the outside world, but it is something I am acutely aware of.

Disappointed

"I was disappointed to be released by West Brom at 16. At the time I felt it was the end of the world.

"From that point I was determined to get back into full-time football. I took all sorts of jobs, worked hard in the gym in the evenings because I knew professionals trained every day and I wanted to have that edge.

"But I do not believe I have made it. I have not got to the Premier League and I've only played for Wales for 18 months."

The 25-year-old's career has progressed rapidly since he sealed a £400,000 switch to Swansea in 2008.

Williams signed a contract extension last month that will keep him at the Liberty Stadium for another four years.

"Ash is one of the players who has developed a lot, but he is also someone who can go a lot further," said Swansea manager Paulo Sousa.

Best

"I watched the national team in their game against Russia (in September) and Ash was the best defender.

"There were Premier League players around him, so after looking at that game I felt Ash belongs there too.

"But he belongs to us and we need him to help us reach the Premier League."

Williams has never skippered Swansea, but was club captain at former club Stockport County.

Robert Earnshaw (calf) and Andy King (wrist) are doubts for the first international at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Craig Bellamy, James Collins, Chris Gunter, Jack Collison, David Vaughan and Simon Davies have withdrawn from the match because of injury.

That means Joe Allen, Rob Earnshaw and Darcy Blake have been added to the squad, while Swansea-born Cardiff full-back Adam Matthews and St Mirren midfielder Andy Dorman have received first call-ups.

Midfielder Dorman, 27, who went to school in Wales, is now available for Toshack after a Fifa rule change on eligibility.