It’s not been easy for captain Shaun Williams at Gillingham admits the head coach.
Experienced midfielder Williams hasn’t made a league appearance since Stephen Clemence took charge of the Gillingham team, with his only appearances being off the bench in two FA Cup matches.
Although previous manager Neil Harris named Williams the team’s captain, the 37-year-old made his final league appearance at the end of October, coming off the bench in a 2-0 loss to Newport County at home.
The 24-year-old Ethan Coleman, who has been having a respectable season as the team’s main defensive midfield player, is somewhat to blame, Clemence acknowledges.
When questioned about Williams’ prolonged absence, the head coach of the Gills responded, “Ethan has been fantastic since I arrived and the games I saw before he was excellent as well.”
The fans would also likely tell you that he has been our best player thus far this season. Ethan has also left the players really impressed.
Shaun has found it challenging. I haven’t been able to give him the game time he wants, but he’s had a really fantastic career and still wants to play.
Sometimes I try to cover other regions, so it’s hard for me to even get that position onto the bench. They may be defenders, but I think I have several players who can play in midfield as well as a few other spots.
“It’s challenging, but the way he’s trained and carried himself—I’ve seen guys in similar situation toss their toys out of strollers and generally cause trouble, but that hasn’t happened with him.
“He has performed exceptionally well on the training pitch every day, despite the fact that it has not been at all easy for him.”
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