Bristol City: Derrick Williams happy with wing-back role
Last updated on .From the section Football
Bristol City defender Derrick Williams says he is enjoying a positional switch to left wing-back.
Robins manager Steve Cotterill shifted the 22-year-old from centre-back to the left-flank seven games ago.
"I remember the meeting with the manager when he said 'I might stick you left wing-back' and in my head I kind of laughed," Williams told BBC Radio Bristol.
"My legs are getting a lot better at doing the job."
The former Aston Villa defender has not missed a match for the Championship side this season, who face Rotherham on Saturday.
Williams had spent most of his Bristol City career as a central defender, but the new role is not totally unorthodox to the Irishman.
"I used to play further forward as a left-midfielder. I was going to sign for Manchester City as a left-midfielder when I was younger actually," he added.
"I like getting forward when I can and I am enjoying it at the minute."
Bristol City have kept three clean sheets in five matches and the ever-present Williams hopes he can continue to impress in his new role.
The former Ireland Under-21 international still has ambitions of breaking into Martin O'Neill's senior Ireland squad, who qualified for Euro 2016 after a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"It has been a goal of mine for a while now. I just need to try and keep doing well for Bristol City and hopefully I will get my rewards," he said.
"He (Martin O'Neill) picks the same squad quite a bit and there are quite a few senior players that are there and have done it for years and years.
"I will keep working hard and hopefully, you never know."
