JORDAN Williams admits his spell in Barnsley’s back three this season was ‘tough at times’ but believes he has grown as a player and person because of it.
The Reds captain excelled at right wing-back last season then was moved to the right of three centre-backs for this season, making some costly mistakes before returning to the right last month.
Williams told the Chronicle: “I learned a massive amount. I went through some tough spells at times.
“But if you don’t go through times like that you don’t grow as a player and a person. Hopefully you can see now that I have grown, hopefully my performances are good and hopefully we keep winning.”
Williams put in the cross for Corey O’Keeffe’s winner at Wycombe on Saturday and assisted Conor Grant’s goal for 4-2. He said: “In that position you want to contribute with assists and hopefully a few goals and help the team out. But the main thing is trying to keep the goals out of the net.
“There have been a lot of different scorers which is massive for the group and builds confidences throughout everyone.”
Williams was able to move back to the right due to the signing of Donovan Pines who has been playing in the middle of the back three, with fellow January signing Josh Earl on the left.
Williams said: “They have both been excellent. Credit to them. They are big characters and they are just going to help us as the season goes on.”
Barnsley have chalked up 22 points from losing positions this season, coming back to win six times since December.
Williams said: “Last year we didn’t come from behind to win one game.
“It’s a big thing we talked about last summer. If we wanted to be successful we needed to come from behind because we’re not going to go in front in every game.
“We’ve done it a lot.
“It’s not great to keep falling behind but to have that belief that we can score goals to get back in the game is credit to the team.”
Williams, 24, has played 188 games for the Reds after joining from hometown club Huddersfield Town in 2018.
He was named captain for this season and is enjoying leading the Reds into a promotion fight in the final months of the campaign.
“It’s great. You dream about being in promotion fights and as a captain it’s even better. But we just need to take it a game at a time.
“The players who have been here know what it takes. The lads who have come in have brought experience.
“As the season has gone on, the confidence and belief has just grown.
“We need to keep working hard, rest and recover between games, and just focus on the next one.”
