Jordan Williams Looks Ahead After Nightmare Year

Jordan Williams, Liverpool’s young center-back, has returned to the pitch after a devastating knee injury that kept him on the sidelines for all of last season. The setback couldn’t have come at a worse time for the 20-year-old, who had been flourishing on loan with Swindon Town and received his first senior call up with the Wales national team.

Speaking with the ECHO, Williams discussed several topics, including his Liverpool senior debut, his injury, and his hopes for this season.

Regarding his appearance in Liverpool’s 2014 league cup victory against Middlesbrough and scoring in the lengthy penalty shoot-out, Williams said, “I remember every bit of that night. Not long ago I was speaking to Jordan (Rossiter) about it. It was a big night for both of us. It was just an unbelievable feeling. That experience of walking up to the Kop to take a penalty is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.

“It was a special moment for me and my family. I got the shirt framed for my mum. She supported me so much and took me everywhere I needed to go as a kid so that was for her.

“Hopefully I can experience something like that again one day. Every day I come into the Academy, I’m thinking about getting back to where I was at that time. It was the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

It was September 2015 when the bad news occurred, and Williams learned that the pain in his knee would require meniscus surgery.

“It wasn’t a big operation but I had a few setbacks along the way which meant I was out for 12 months. It’s been hell, really,” he admitted. “It was hard but I’d been through it before as when I was a first-year scholar I was out for 12 months as well.”

“Back then it was the cartilage in my left knee, this time it was my meniscus. I’ve had good people around me to help me through it.

“I’ve always been really close to my mum and she’s helped me a lot. I’ve got good mates and people around the club have been great too. Physios Andy (Renshaw) and Richie (Partridge) looked after me brilliantly.

“The likes of Alex (Inglethorpe) and Mick Beale were great with me too. You feel that you are by yourself at times but it’s nice when someone puts an arm around you.

“The toughest part was coming in, not being able to train and having to be in the gym every day. You’re sat there watching all the lads go out for training. That was tough.”

While Williams returned from injury in time to play in August, he soon fell victim to a groin injury that sidelined him another two months. Now, though, he’s returned and feels confident about the rest of the season playing with the U23s.

“I’m feeling good. I’ve got my fitness back. I feel strong and now I want to kick on,” he said. “It was another setback with my groin but I’m in a better place now. I’ve been working with the fitness coaches for the past three weeks and it was good to get on against City.

“I need to get my head down, keep training and hopefully get a lot of game time. I’ve missed a lot of football but I believe in myself that I can get back to where I was before I picked up the injury.”

Williams is one of only two Jordans remaining in Liverpool’s formerly large stable of Jord(o)ans, and Liverpool is always in the market for a solid center-back, so with luck Williams will put together a good chunk of games and continue in his development.