JONNY Williams is being fined by his Swindon Town teammates every day he is away with Wales at the World Cup, according to defender Frazer Blake-Tracy.
Williams was included in Rob Page’s 26-man squad for the tournament in Qatar but was an unused substitute as Wales drew 1-1 with the United States of America on Monday night.
Just a couple of days before, a Williams-less Town lost 1-0 at home to Crewe Alexandra in League Two.
Near the end of Blake-Tracy’s post-match interviews on Saturday, the Burton Albion loanee was asked if anyone had spoken to the Welshman ahead of the tournament getting underway.
Blake-Tracy confirmed Williams had been left to his own devices but was aware of the small penalty he was being required to pay as compensation to his teammates.
Blake-Tracy said: “He is in the group chat, but I don’t think anyone has spoken to him directly.
“I know he’s getting fined by us every day that he’s out in Qatar – just a few pounds – because we’re missing him, so we have to fine him. Every day that he’s there, he’s getting fined a couple of quid by us because he’s not doing his job here.
“But I’m sure he’s enjoying it out there, it’s the World Cup! What an experience for him, what a dream come true. Good luck to him.
“Hopefully he gets on and makes an impact, but we’re definitely missing him here. We’ve definitely got enough squad depth to cope though.”
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Without Williams in the Town squad, Swindon have failed to win either of their two games in League Two – drawing 1-1 with Tranmere Rovers and going down to Crewe.
Blake-Tracy paid tribute to the quality of his Welsh teammate and is looking forward to welcoming Williams back whenever he returns.
Blake-Tracy said: “We will definitely miss him. You don’t get into the Wales squad and go to a World Cup for no reason, do you?
“But I do feel like we’ve got enough good players all over the pitch to cope.
“He may come back rejuvenated having trained with the Welsh squad, but I would have taken Jonny Williams before he went out to the World Cup. I thought he was in terrific form.
“I didn’t play in the Mansfield game, but he scored two goals in the number-10 role and ran the show that day.
“We are missing him, but I’m sure he’ll have an impact on the team whenever he does come back.”
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