Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Danny Williams says he hopes to be back training with Reading in November.

The American midfielder is currently out with a knee injury he initially sustained playing for his country back in March.

And despite returning for a brief period at the end of the season, he had to go under the knife once again in July.

Williams said: “I did everything to avoid surgery in the summer.

“I had special treatment but then it started to swell up again after games or tough sessions, so I decided to have the operation.

“It’s frustrating.

“I’ve always said it’s the worst thing when I can’t help the team.

“But my knee is getting better, and I’m getting stronger.

“Hopefully I’ll be running again soon and could be back training by the start of November.”

Williams had hoped to put off surgery in time to play at the World Cup, but the 25-year-old was forced to sit on the sidelines to witness the US’ run to the last 16.

He returned for Royals’ pre-season programme and played 45 minutes of the first friendly against Exeter.

But that was his final time in a Reading shirt before having a second operation.

Williams added: “There were different circumstances this summer.

“I had the World Cup on my mind.

“I went over to meet up with the US squad to have treatment and we had training three times a day to prepare for it.

“But my knee wasn’t right during those sessions.

“So I had a long talk with Jurgen Klinsmann (manager) and he decided it was better to leave me out.

“That’s life, so now the main thing is for me to come back strong with Reading.”

Williams is one of a number of senior players on a lengthy injury list for manager Nigel Adkins, which includes club captain Jem Karacan and key players Danny Guthrie and Garath McCleary.

And despite bringing in Oliver Norwood last month from Huddersfield Town, Adkins has had to plunge some of Reading’s academy players into first-team action in the Championship.

Williams, though, believes the youngsters are more than capable of filling the missing players’ roles.

“We don’t have much pressure on the team,” he said.

“We have young players who have come in and done great.

“There are players like me, Jem Karacan and Danny Guthrie to come back and help them.

“I’m looking forward to playing.

“We have a good team and a good squad.

“Off the pitch we have great characters so it’s all good.”

Williams made 32 appearances and scored three times last year in his debut season for Reading, after signing from German side Hoffenheim on a four-year deal.