Williams Withdraws As Murts Gets Ready To Do Battle

Last updated : 16 February 2004 By Rob Cooper
Adie Williams
Williams today withdrew from the Wales squad
Reading were hoping to have three internationals in action in Cardiff on Wednesday night, but it now seems that they will have to settle for just one.

Winger Scott Murray did not have his provisional Scotland call-up confirmed, whilst Welsh centre-back Adie Williams has today withdrawn from Mark Hughes' squad with to a toe infection.

But the double blow for the Reading man is tempered by the success story of adopted Scotsman Graeme Murty. The ex-York City man could be set to make his international debut at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday following an impressive showing for Berti Vogts' Scotland Future XI.

Murty, who is 'really looking forward' to Wednesday's game, would surely like to have faced up to team-mate Adie Williams.

Williams though is adamant that he has made the right decision in withdrawing from the squad as he chooses to focus on Reading's play-off push.

"It's one of those things and hopefully it can clear up sooner rather than later," said the Reading skipper to the official site.

"I'm half-fortunate in that I'm suspended for the game at Gillingham anyway so if there's ever a good time to be injured for Reading it's when you're out anyway."

However for Murty, Reading's most consistent player over the past two years, this really wouldn't be the time to be injured.