Ashley Williams admits that he is full of admiration for Ledley King after struggling for fitness against Everton last weekend
Ashley Williams admits that he is full of admiration for Ledley King after struggling for fitness against Everton last weekend
King has a chronic knee problem that prevents him playing generally more than once a week and having missed the midweek FA Cup win over Bolton, he should return against the Swans at white Hart Lane tomorrow
"I think he's a brilliant player for the fact that he cannot train, then come in and play so well," said Williams when talking to the Evening Post.
"He's so good and we're at opposite ends of the scale.
"I didn't train last week then played and struggled big time.
"Your touch, your co-ordination, all these things that you take for granted, you lose after a bit of time off.
"I couldn't do it last week so for him to do it all the time just shows how good a pro he is.
"I've watched him for years and I think he's an unbelievable player.
"I feel a lot better now, I've got over it totally. I've had a good week's training and feel fine," he said.
"I've been lucky with illness and injury so I kind of forgot what it was like to be ill.
"It wasn't nice. I watched the Fulham game on the internet and it was so weird seeing the team without me.
"I couldn't train or anything and it was just frustrating — everyone knows what it's like to be ill and off work.
"I spoke to the gaffer all last week and I wasn't really too fussed who played," said the former Stockport man.
"The main thing this season is that we win, get points and stay safe.
"It's not about me and I think you can see that from the boys that have come in, like Monks, it's not about him.
"If I don't play, Caulks and Monks play and we win, then great.
"We've got that spirit in the squad this year and it's brilliant.
"I know from speaking to Monks, Luke and everyone that they are frustrated because they want to play — they're professionals," said Williams.
"But as long as you don't bring it into training, you come in every day and you work as hard as you can, which they do, you can see the result on the pitch when they come on.
"I heard Leon (Britton) say 'why would you want to go anywhere else at the moment?' Unless it's to one of the top few teams we're all happy to stay.
"For the team it's important that we keep our top players.
We've all bought in to what the gaffer wants to do and we can see that it works," he said.
"Since I've been here we've been lucky, we've had a really good bunch of guys on the whole.
"It's great when you've got that in the squad and you can really see it now.
"People come in and just do a job. If they're out the next week they're out. It's bigger than them."