The Everton-owned defender has been called up to the Wales squad.
Wales boss Ryan Giggs has revealed to a press conference on FAW’s Facebook page that he and Stoke City manager Nathan Jones are happy with Everton’s Ashley Williams.
The veteran centre-back, who joined the Potters on loan from Everton last summer, is enduring a rough spell at The Bet 365 Stadium.
The 34-year-old has been dropped for City’s last six Championship games, making second-half cameos in only two of them.
Despite a lack of football recently at club level, Giggs has brought the Everton defender – his captain – into the Wales squad for games against Trinidad & Tobago and Slovakia this month.
And Giggs reveals that Jones is ‘really happy’ with the stalwart after speaking to the Stoke boss on the phone.
He said to a press conference on FAW’s Facebook page, when asked about Williams’s ‘rough patch’: “No I think he’s enjoying his spell at Stoke. I spoke to Nathan Jones last night and he’s really happy with him.”
Williams, a £12 million signing by the Toffees in 2016 [BBC Sport], was a top defender in his day, but he has been a declining force in recent years.
Many Everton fans couldn’t wait to get rid of him after a disappointing season under Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce last term.
The good news for the Goodison Park faithful is that Williams – who turns 35 in August – is out of contract this summer and therefore it’s unlikely that he’ll ever kick another ball for the Blues.
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