Welsh media deliver intriguing verdicts on Nottingham Forest star Neco Williams
03/23/2025 05:00 AM
Nottingham Forest have a number of players currently away on international duty with Neco Williams currently with the Wales squad.
It’s been quite the season for the Welshman.
He must have been left fearing the worst for his time at Forest 12 months ago when Steve Cooper had not found a place for him in the team and then Nuno Espirito Santo also saw him as second fiddle at times.
In the opening months of the season, he was behind Alex Moreno on the left and Ola Aina on the right in the pecking order but since December things have gone on an upward trajectory for Williams.
Now, he seems to be thriving for club and country and after a disastrous World Cup in 2022, he will be keen to help Wales return for the 2026 edition of the greatest show on earth when it comes to football.
Welsh media deliver verdict on performance of Neco Williams
Williams – despite signing as a right-back – has found a home for both club and country as a left-back and it’s a role that he’s really taken to.
The 23-year-old has grown over the last 18 months as a footballer and has very much cemented his place at left-back in the Forest team.
Wales defeated Kazhakstan 3-1 in their first World Cup qualifier last night and Craig Bellamy once again gave Williams the nod at left-back.
Wales Online scored him 7/10 and said: “He was pinging balls for fun at times. Also made more tackles than any other player on the pitch.”
Y Clwb Pel-Droed also gave him a 7/10, with them claiming: “A solid defensive display from the Nottingham Forest man with some well-timed tackles denying the visitors. He came close to extending the lead forcing a great save from Alexandr Marochkin.”
Neco Williams stats vs Kazhakstan
Williams is clearly in confident spirits at the moment and his form is showcasing a player who has improved considerably.
Last night, he made more tackles than any other player on the pitch and was in fine form despite the inferior opposition.
| Neco Williams stats vs Kazhakstan | Total |
| Minutes | 90 |
| Tackles | 5 |
| Clearances | 2 |
| Pass Accuracy | 90.6% |
| Who Scored Rating | 7.85 |
Qualifying for the World Cup won’t be easy. Wales also face Liechtenstein, North Macedonia and Belgium with only the top-placed team getting automatic qualification for the finals.
The play-offs do look firmly in the sights of Wales though and with Williams in this sort of form, Bellamy could have his left-back nailed for many years to come.
