Williams turns to Glory to revive career

Forgotten Socceroo Rhys Williams has put his international dreams on the backburner while he attempts to reignite his stalled career at Perth in the A-League.

Williams has been ravaged by injuries over the past three years, with two achilles tendon ruptures cutting short his promising career at English Championship outfit Middlesbrough – a club he once captained.

The 27-year-old still harbours dreams of playing in the English Premier League, and featuring for the Socceroos again.

But for the moment, it’s all about playing soccer on a consistent basis, which he hopes to do during his upcoming one-year stint at the Glory.

“I’ve never not thought about it,” Williams said of his Socceroos dreams.

“But it is something in the back of my head for now. I just want to get playing and start performing.

“I have come back (from England) earlier than I wanted to.

“I had a plan of playing in the Premier League, and I realised it wasn’t meant to be. I need to get myself going again.”

A pelvic injury ruled Williams out of the 2010 World Cup, before his achilles issues ruined his World Cup hopes in 2014.

A strong season with Perth – and more importantly a season without any major injuries – could thrust Williams back into the national picture in time for the 2018 World Cup.

But first, he’d love to win a title with his hometown club Perth.

“I was a season ticket holder when I was a kid,” Williams said.

“My mum and dad used to take me when Bobby (Despotovski) was playing.

“We get all the games (televised) in England. I followed it. And just seeing what they did towards the end of last season just makes the decision (to join) feel even better.”

The Glory will start as one of the favourites to win the next title, with the powerful squad boasting the likes of Williams, Andy Keogh, Diego Castro, Chris Herd, Adam Taggart and Josh Risdon.

Williams will link up with his younger brother Aryn at Glory.

And another bonus of returning to Perth is the better weather.

“Even though it’s winter, it’s still better than the weather I’ve dealt with. It’s good to be back,” he said.

The Glory announced earlier this week they had re-signed coach Kenny Lowe for a further two seasons, tying the 54-year-old to the club until the end of the 2018/19 campaign.