Thursday 23 November 2017 19:41, UK
There are some young players who are happy to sit in academies and play for the Under 23s. Joe Williams is not one of them.
At 20 years of age and without a senior appearance to his name, the Everton midfielder headed to Oakwell on loan in the summer in search of first-team football.
"I think there are too many young players that are happy for an easy ride," he told Sky Sports, after winning the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month award for October. "It's important to challenge yourself and go to a place where you don't know anyone with new coaches and play with a bit more pressure."
And challenge himself he has. Williams was an ever-present in the league for Barnsley, until a fifth yellow card of the season at Norwich last weekend ruled him out for their midweek defeat against Cardiff.
At Everton since the age of seven, Williams was part of the Under-23s side that became Premier League 2 champions under David Unsworth (who Williams believes is ready for the Everton job on a permanent basis) last season, but he admits the actual second tier is a different level altogether.
"The pace of the Championship caught me by surprise at first, but I've settled in well and I think it suits my game now," he said. "I like to play quickly and I'm definitely learning more here than I would playing Under-23 football at Everton.
"Even just making the squad or being involved in the first team here is helping my development. But I do want to play every week and get a good season under my belt. I want to show I can do it and that I'm capable of doing it, and it's so far, so good."
But how did he end up at Barnsley? Other clubs were interested, according to Williams, but it was Paul Heckingbottom who twisted his arm.
"The manager had been to a few Everton Under-23 games," he said. "There were a few other teams interested as well but I met with [Heckingbottom] and he told me what the team was about and how they played, and that chat with him made me want to come here.
"I also spoke to the likes of Mason Holgate who told me it was a good club to come to."
For now, Williams is focusing on getting a good season under his belt at Barnsley, and insists any hopes of breaking in at Everton are something to worry about later down the line.
The level-headed youngster would love to play for his boyhood team one day, but at a time when too many young players stay in youth-team football for too long, Williams, refreshingly, is keen to ensure he's playing regularly at any level.
"If I go back there and get in the first team it would be great, but if not I'm sure there'll be other opportunities elsewhere," he said. "I'll just keep working hard to get to where I need to be.
"I get the occasional call from Everton to see how I'm getting on, but I'm a Barnsley player this season and I'm happy to get my head down and focus on being here. The way it's gone so far I'd happily stay and do another season here, but you just don't know what's going to happen."
In the immediate future, the focus is Leeds at Oakwell on Saturday in a big Yorkshire derby. It's live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event from 12pm.
"I know it's a massive rivalry," he said. "I saw the game on TV at Oakwell last season and the atmosphere was incredible. I can't wait to play in it and hopefully get the win for the fans."
Don't miss the Sky Bet Championship clash between Barnsley and Leeds on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event from 12pm
