Williams Relishing Cup Clash

The defender was an unused substitute in City’s Emirates FA Cup third round draw with the Baggies ten days ago, after struggling with injury.

Williams, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Sunday, played 71 minutes in Saturday’s win over Middlesbrough – his first match of the calendar year – and is hoping to play the whole match in tonight’s replay (7.45pm).

“I’m delighted I have the chance to test myself against some of the best players in the Premier League,” he told Bristol City Player HD.

“You can see where you are and how close you are to those players so I’m looking forward to it.

“My knee problem was going on for five or six weeks and I was trying to get through that.

“I let it rest for three weeks, came back on Saturday and felt ok but I got cramp and couldn’t really carry on.

“Hopefully that break will help me going into tonight and I’ll get the full 90 minutes.”

City pushed Tony Pulis’ side all the way in the first tie and it took a last-gasp equaliser from James Morrison to force a replay.

Williams was impressed by what he saw from the bench and feels a similar performance is in the offing.

“I thought we played really well and kept a lot of their players quiet for a lot of the game,” he said.

“Hopefully we can do the same tonight, keep the ball a bit more as we didn’t do that as much as we wanted to away, but in front of our home fans we can do that.”

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