AFC Fylde defender faces a waiting game

Steve Williams (left) with fellow central defender Josh Langley

The defender, who joined from Barrow this summer, is desperate to get a first promotion under his belt but he isn’t expecting an easy ride.

Williams said: “Maybe others will see finishing second or reaching the play-off final as a good season, but we’ve already done that and we need to do better this time around.

“Promotion is the one and only aim. How we achieve that is down to us. Ideally we want to win the league early on by a few points like Solihull did last season

“Every game will be tough. There may be the odd game when we are flying and full of confidence and we turn someone over but on the whole it’s going to be very difficult.

“We have to make sure we compete in every game. We showed at the weekend against Tranmere that when you don’t compete then you are in trouble.”

The Coasters get their National League North campaign underway on Saturday at AFC Telford United, but Williams fears he may miss the match.

“It was my hamstring that was causing me trouble on Saturday,” he said.

“It’s not ideal picking up an injury right before the start of the season but it shouldn’t keep me out for too long.

“It is has been frustrating but physically and mentally I am feeling good.

“Saturday might come a little too soon, but I’m working with the phsyio every day to try and get there. We will have to wait and see but it might be a last minute decision.

“Pre-season has been difficult. There was a lot less ball work early on compared with other clubs when the balls are out almost straight away but it has been good for us this way to get fitness level right up.

“The first couple of games weren’t the best but we have had some very good results since. The defeat against Tranmere was almost a good thing for us because it set a benchmark of where we need to be.

“We have learnt some valuable lessons through pre-season.

Once fit, Williams is expected to partner fellow centre-half Josh Langley in the heart of defence and the former Bradford City man insists it will take time to gel.

He said: “I’ve played with loads of different centre-halves and every one is different. It takes time to gel and get to know each other but the longer you play with someone the better the understanding becomes.”