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Neco Williams reveals on-field exchange with Tottenham star after Wales announced World Cup squad

Published

10 months ago

November 16, 2022

Neco Williams reveals on-field exchange with Tottenham star Ben Davies after Wales announced World Cup squad

Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams has recalled having a moment with Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies during a cup tie after Wales confirmed their 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The Welsh right-back left Liverpool to join the Tricky Trees this summer. Davies, on the other hand, has been at Spurs since he left Swansea City for N17 over eight years ago.

Spurs took the field against Forest in an EFL Cup tie on 10 November at the City Ground shortly after Wales manager Rob Page confirmed his 26-man squad for Qatar. To no one’s surprise, Williams and Davies were named.

Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur with Neco Williams. (Image: BBC)

Nevertheless, the former Reds right-back said it was a relief finally seeing his name on the final list. Speaking in an interview (h/t BBC Sport Wales), he recalled looking at Tottenham’s Ben Davies on the pitch, where the two exchanged a look.

“When they announced it we had Spurs in the cup. I was on the pitch and Ben [Davies] came over and we had a quick look at it the same time. You feel so much more relaxed seeing your name.”

Davies was not in the matchday squad while Williams only came on as a substitute later in the game as Forest won 2-0. Perhaps the two shared this moment when they were on the pitch together before kick-off.

Davies has benefitted a lot from manager Antonio Conte’s arrival. The former Swans star was always seen as a left-back under the reign of managers like Jose Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino, and Nuno Espirito Santo.

https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1592276184963977216?s=20&t=8mX5kYBLjjxnNJkJ0db47w

His attacking abilities are arguably not as polished as some other players in that position, but Conte saw the potential in Davies to play as a third centre-half, which has truly revived the Welshman’s career.

Some would even say that it has saved the Spurs star’s international career as well, as it is hard to imagine a player rarely being picked at club level making the trip to a World Cup or featuring regularly in his country’s starting XI.