Neco Williams seeks rest after demanding 2026 campaign for Wales and Forest

Wales and Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams completes a marathon season with 63 appearances across club and country.

Seasoned performer reflects Neco Williams, the Wales and Nottingham Forest full-back, admitted feeling tired but fulfilled after a physically demanding campaign. He played every minute as Wales held Ghana to a 1-1 draw in a warm-up friendly at Cardiff City Stadium. The 25-year-old is scheduled to make his 63rd appearance of the season when Wales face Romania in another friendly in Bucharest on Saturday. 'It is tiring, but this is what we get paid to do and we enjoy it as well, so I'm happy with that,' Williams remarked. ## Love for playing time Williams expressed his passion for consistent game time, stressing that minimal appearances would leave him dissatisfied. 'As a footballer you want to play as many games as possible,' he said. 'If I played only a couple of games then I wouldn't be happy, but to play that amount of games means you're doing something well.' His dedication reflected in his output as a key figure for Forest last term, featuring in 53 matches while helping them retain Premier League status and advance to the Europa League semi-finals. ## Club recognition and contract talks The Wrexham-born defender was honored with Nottingham Forest's player of the season award for his contributions. The club has since entered discussions with him regarding a potential contract extension. 'It's physically and mentally tough, but we're professional enough to deal with what gets put in front of us,' Williams noted, highlighting the challenges of frequent matches and travel. He plans to celebrate the season's end with a vacation, complete with drinks and relaxation on the beach before returning to training. ## Koumas breakthrough moment Williams played a pivotal role in Lewis Koumas's first senior Wales goal, delivering the cross for the injury-time equalizer against Ghana. The former Liverpool defender praised Koumas, who spent the season on loan at Hull City, for seizing his opportunity. 'He's been waiting for that moment for a while now,' Williams said. 'I'm glad he's got it. I'm glad I assisted it.' Wales created several chances but settled for a draw, aiming to end the summer with a victory after a mixed record.