Neco Williams Still Key as Nottingham Forest Weigh January Wing-Back Move

Neco Williams remains an important Nottingham Forest player despite renewed debate over whether the club should recruit a natural left-sided wing-back when the January window opens. The Wales international has earned praise for his output and consistency, but the balance of the team could yet prompt a further move in the market.

Williams has adapted since Forest return

Forest signed Williams after winning promotion to the Premier League in 2022, initially viewing him as an option on the right side of Steve Cooper’s defence. He was capable of operating as a conventional full-back or pushing forward from a more advanced wide role.

With the left-back position proving difficult to settle, Williams was moved across the back line. The 25-year-old has brought intensity, running power and commitment to the role, even if it has not always been his most natural position.

His tendency to move inside on to his stronger right foot can affect both sides of the game. In defensive situations, it may delay a clearance down the flank, while in attack it can make his next move easier for opponents to anticipate before he delivers a cross or pass.

The left-footed balance question

Forest’s acquisition of Daniel Munoz for the right side has sharpened attention on the opposite flank. A naturally left-footed player can receive the ball and play forward immediately down the line, helping the side use the full width of the pitch.

• A right-footed player on the left may be forced to turn back inside before progressing play.
• That can allow opponents to close down the wide channel and press higher up the field.
• A left-footed wide defender can open their body towards the touchline and create more space across the pitch.
• The issue becomes particularly relevant in a back-three system, where wing-backs begin from much wider starting positions.

Former Forest figure Walker believes the club should look for a specialist in that role, while stressing that Williams’ performances make the discussion far from a criticism of the player.

“I would, 100 per cent,” Walker said when asked whether he would seek a proven left-sided option. “But Neco has probably been Forest’s best player over the last 18 months, so he finds a way. He brings energy into the team.”

Walker pointed to Andreas Brehme, a right-footed left-back who became a world-class performer, as evidence that a player can succeed on the opposite side. Even so, he argued that a natural left footer gives a team a better platform to stretch play.

Consistency has secured Williams’ place

Walker recalled Williams’ display against Liverpool a few years ago, when he played on the left against Mohamed Salah and largely kept the forward quiet. In Walker’s view, that match marked a turning point in the defender’s Forest career.

“Salah barely got a kick,” he said. “From then on, he has progressed and become their most reliable player. On the right, he was not doing anything badly, but he did not stand out in the same fashion. On the left, he gives the side energy, drive and passion.”

Williams’ work since arriving on Trentside has also been recognised with a new deal signed in the summer of 2026. He remains part of Forest’s plans, regardless of whether competition arrives for the left-sided berth.

Glasner could face a January decision

Head coach Oliver Glasner is still establishing his approach at Forest and may need to make difficult selection and recruitment calls as he shapes the squad around his preferred system.

Walker added that he has not yet seen enough of Williams in the specific wing-back role within a back three to be certain it is the best fit. With the player often positioned close to the touchline in that setup, the technical advantage of a natural left foot may become more significant.

Forest therefore face a familiar balancing act: retain faith in one of their most dependable recent performers or strengthen a position that could be vital to Glasner’s tactical blueprint when the January market begins.