THE opportunity to train with players of Steven Gerrard’s calibre don’t come around very often for young players learning their trade.

But this was a reality for Wanderers midfielder MJ Williams, who came through the ranks at his boyhood club Liverpool.

Williams shared a dressing room with the likes of Gerrard, Phillipe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson after bursting onto the scene at Anfield.

The Welshman recalls training with the Reds legend and insists being around him had a big influence on the player he has become.

“Luckily enough, when I was at Liverpool and I went into the first team for five or six months, Gerrard was playing in that (defensive midfield) position so it wasn’t a bad one for me to learn from,” he said with a smile.

“He was obviously getting a bit older and dropped into that position. He was top-class. Just learning from him every day, I used to be out after training doing passing with him.

“When you get that opportunity, you’ve got to take it. That’s what I did and I learned so much from him.

“Even when I’m watching games, I always look at people in that position. I’m a massive Liverpool fan and they’ve probably got one of the best in Fabinho, so it’s not bad watching him as well.”

Williams’ time at Anfield ended abruptly following a devastating knee injury, but he has come a long way since then.

The Welshman has become an integral part of Ian Evatt’s side since arriving at the UniBol earlier this year and has featured in every league game this season.

Williams has impressed in a defensive midfield role, sitting in front of the back four and allowing his midfield partners to join the attack.

And he admits he relishes playing in that role, particularly in the Whites’ system.

“There’s plenty more of them now,” the midfielder added. “It used to be the box-to-box but now you obviously see a lot of the top teams with the holding midfielder.

“It’s a job that I love doing. It gives the freedom to the other lads to go and express themselves because hopefully they know I’ll be behind them, and obviously we’ve got the centre backs and our full backs do push on as well.

“It does go under the radar sometimes I’m sure, someone just going round kicking people and winning the ball back,” he laughed.

“But if that’s what I’m in there for, I love it.”