Williams reportedly unhappy with his rehabilitation work at City

BRISTOL City midfielder Joe Williams has been reported as being unhappy with his treatment off the pitch since joining the Robins, and the Bristol Post understands he is not alone in feeling this way.

City’s £1.2 million summer signing from Wigan has yet to play this season.

A report in The Athletic detailed “Williams has a thigh injury which has kept the £1.2 million September signing from Wigan out all season and it is understood there is tension between the player and the medical staff regarding the treatment he has received.”

We understand the report to be well sourced and true. Further, we understand it is not just Williams: several players are in the same position and have serious question marks over the rehabilitation work they have been asked to do to come back playing.

A workload of too stringent tasks has led to further problems being caused or a lack of progress, with players bemused and frustrated at not being able to regain fitness.

Some of those affected have not had any serious injury problems before in their careers or at previous clubs.

Bristol City are fully supportive of their performance department but will not comment on specific cases.

Williams, pictured, signed from the Latics in August and, as head coach Dean Holden explained recently, the player passed his medical before becoming injured almost immediately. He has been unable to play since the beginning of the season in an exasperatingly long absence from both training and matches.

There is no time-frame return as things stand. for a

“The truth is it’s not gone according to plan with Joe,” Holden told the Bristol Post last week when asked on the player, in reference to a further hamstring injury having been sustained.

“He’s suffered some setbacks along the way in his rehabilitation. We’ve not seen him with the firstteam group since the day he signed and he got injured on the first day. During his rehabilitation, he’s picked up a hamstring injury during that time.”

Williams played in 40 games for Paul Cook’s side in 2019-20 and, though he suffered a hamstring injury in 2018-19, he still played in 29 games.

City also have

Liam

Walsh,

Nathan Baker, Alfie Mawson, Andi Weimann and Steven Sessegnon who have been long-term injured since before Christmas, with Jay Dasilva, Callum O’Dowda and Jamie Paterson adding to the numbers on the casulaty list.

Chris Brunt was released at the weekend following a calf injury.

There is some light at the end if the tunnel for City fans and the affected players, however, as Mawson has returned to full training this week.

Andy Rolls was recruited as head of performance in the summer of 2018 from Arsenal, after CEO Mark Ashton brought in a long-term acquaintance, with Andrew Proctor as lead physiotherapist.