Should Everton be lining up a January replacement for Ashley Williams?

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Ashley Williams has been in poor form for Everton this season and may need to be replaced in January.

Ashley Williams of Everton and Anton Maglica of Apollon Limassol in action during the UEFA Europa League.

The decline of Ashley Williams over the past 12 months has been so stark and rapid that Everton should perhaps quite legitimately be looking to replace him in January already.

Williams has missed just one match in what has been a dismal season for the Toffees so far, a statistic which although does not tell the whole story about the problems at Goodison Park, still does not reflect well on the centre-back.

Ashley Williams of Wales looks dejected during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Group D Qualifier against Republic of Ireland.

Whether in a two or three-man central defence, the 33-year-old’s lack of pace and agility is forcing him to play so deep that it is affecting not only new signing Michael Keane alongside him, but also how the team plays going forward.

It is not just on the domestic stage where Williams has struggled, with the Wales captain playing poorly for his national side as well as they missed out on the playoffs for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after defeat to the Republic of Ireland in their final qualification match.

It was only last summer that the defender was one of those most greatly praised as the Welsh reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 against the odds. Now he looks to be a massive hindrance to Chris Coleman’s side.

Ronald Koeman, manager of Everton, reacts during the UEFA Europa League group E match against Apollon Limassol.

It leaves his club manager, Ronald Koeman, with some issues at the back. Skipper Phil Jagielka may be more mobile, but at 35-years-old is not someone to build the team around anymore. With Ramiro Funes Mori likely to be out for most of 2017/18 due to a knee injury, that leaves the Dutchman with Keane and youngster Mason Holgate as options.

Koeman would probably not have expected this downturn in form from Williams to have come so soon, but now needs to start implementing a plan for life without the former Swansea City man as soon as possible.