POSH INTERVIEW: Williams was pleased to become a '˜drop-out'.

Three years dodging fearssome tackles delivered by rock-hard semi-professionals toughened up the striker.

So much so the 22 year-old is finding some aspects of professional football a doddle in comparison.

Williams made eight substitute appearances for Walsall as a teenager before joining the Midlands non-league circuit, playing for Worcester City, Rushall Olympic and Nuneaton, before taking up an offer to join Posh.

“I was 18 when I made my first-team debut for Walsall and I struggled,” Williams admitted. “I was thrown in at the deep end.

“Mind you when I dropped into non-league football that wasn’t easy either. I was playing against big blokes who had worked hard all week and who just wanted to kick lumps out of you.

“But it toughened me up. I became very streetwise and I learnt to protect the ball as well as myself. I soon learnt that if these defenders kicked you it would hurt so I adapted.

“You don’t get any time on the ball in non-league football, but I’m certain dropping out of the full-time game and coming back into it was the best decision I could have made.”

Williams didn’t hesitate when Posh came calling at the end of last year.

Posh boss Graham Westley invited him for a trial, liked what he saw and snapped him up during January.

Two months later and Williams has started three first-team matches in a row, scored twice and earned comparisons with Conor Washington, a former Posh player who looks set to play in the Euros Finals in France this summer for Northern Ireland, just five months after leaving the ABAX Stadium.

“Although Nuneaten were a full-time club, it took a while to adjust to playing for Peterborough,” Williams added.

“They were sixth in the league when I arrived so I didn’t expect to get into the first team that quickly, but I got my head down, took on board what the manager and coaches told me, and luckily I started to get into the matchday squad, and then the starting line-up.

“I believe I am a versatile striker. I don’t mind holding the ball up and bringing others into play. I also don’t mind being asked to chase balls down the flanks.

“I enjoy the extra time you get on the ball in League One. That helps me and I just hope I can do enough to stay in the team.

“Every game I get under my belt is a chance to learn and improve. If I get enough games I’m sure the goals will keep coming.

“I knew before I joined, that Peterborough help strikers to progress so I wanted to come as soon as I heard of their interest.

“I think they’ve had eight forwards go on to big clubs which is impressive.”