RO-SHAUN WILLIAMS can count on one Shrewsbury fan willing him on against Liverpool tomorrow — Marcus Rashford!
The Manchester United and England striker has become a secret Shrews supporter since his close friend joined the League One club last January.
Ro-Shaun Williams is ready to beat Liverpool for close pal Marcus RashfordCredit: Dave Pinegar – The Sun
Williams, 21, and Rashford, 22, are lifelong buddies who grew up together and graduated through youth football at Fletcher Moss and United.
Rashford has been to a few Shrewsbury games — home and away — since Williams left United last January after 11 years with the club.
The defender said: “Marcus has watched us when he has had free time. He’s been to our place and came to watch us at Barnsley last season as well.
“I’ve not spoken to him for a couple of weeks because he’s a bit down with his back injury at the moment.
“But I know he’ll be willing me on against Liverpool — not just because we’re friends but also proud United fans have that rivalry with Liverpool.”
Both their dads — Robert Rashford and Erroll Williams — were close friends before either of them were born.
And Williams added: “We’re like family and have always had each other’s backs.
“Marcus and I lived close by in Sale and would travel to training and games together. I’d always spend time with him and his mum and we’d play football on the streets.
“Marcus was unlike me or any of my friends who played. He’d practise stuff more, whether it was keep-ups or juggling tricks.”
Marcus Rashford is a regular visitor to Shrewsbury to cheer his mate onCredit: Getty – Contributor
Williams was at Old Trafford the night Rashford scored twice on his debut in the Europa League against Midtjylland in 2016 before going to his house afterwards.
He said: “It was a good moment. Everyone was buzzing at his house because we all knew all the hard work and sacrifices he had made to reach that point.
“My brother and I watched him score twice again at Old Trafford on his Premier League debut against Arsenal three days later.”
Rashford has gone on to make 201 appearances for United and win 38 England caps — and his exploits have inspired Williams.
Ahead of Shrewsbury’s huge home fourth-round FA Cup tie with Liverpool, he added: “It motivated me to work harder, not look up to him because he’s my friend but try to get to that sort of level.”
Williams decided to quit United — six months after he featured in the club’s pre-season USA tour under Jose Mourinho — as he could not see any path into the first team.
He added: “It was my decision, no one else’s. I had six months on my contract and spoke to Nicky Butt, head of first-team development.
“I told him, ‘I believe I’ve enough talent to get to where I want but it’s unrealistic to think I’m going to break into the United team having just turned 20.’
“It gets to the point where you think, ‘I want to be a footballer, I want to play at the highest level I can and there’s no point wasting my time in the Under-23s.’”
Williams already has experience of going up against LiverpoolCredit: Getty Images
And while the facilities and surroundings in League One are a mile away from Old Trafford and Carrington, Williams is getting precious game-time.
Already he has racked up 41 starts for Sam Ricketts’ men.
And he said: “I had no problem going to a League One club. I’ve embraced everything that this level is about and I’m loving it.”
Williams has one other big claim to fame . . . he broke former Great Britain athlete Darren Campbell’s 100metre schoolboy record in his first-ever competitive race.
The Shrewsbury defender attended the same school in Ashton-on-Mersey and when aged 15 clocked 10.99sec — smashing Campbell’s 25-year school record of 11.13.
He was even sent a congratulatory video message by the former Olympic 4x100m gold medallist.
Williams was cringing when reminded his mum, Nylva, once nicknamed him, “My Little Usain.”
But he added: “United sent us to that school and our relay team was good as we were all athletes.”
Williams admits he admires Liverpool even though as an ardent United fan it has been difficult to watch them win last season’s Champions League and now run away with the title.
But he is not daunted by tomorrow’s game and said: “They’re all human beings but just on a different level to where we are at the moment.
“But there are players in our team who could be winning the Premier League with another team in a couple of years’ time.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
