Williams handed a second chance

David Williams: Chance to prove himself at Boundary Park.

ATHLETIC have completed the signing of former Manchester United striker David Williams.

The 17-year-old, who was released by the Old Trafford club in February, has agreed a season-long deal and his first professional contract, though technically he is still a trainee.

Williams, who will be eligible to play for Athletic’s youth team, is unlikely to feature at first-team level and is viewed as a player for the future.

Athletic had tracked Williams during his days at United and took him on trial after he was released by the Reds.

Williams was signed on Pontins League forms to enable him to play in the reserves but he sustained a serious knee injury in the warm-up before a game.

It required surgery and Williams won’t be back in action until September. However, Athletic, aware of the player’s potential, have agreed to give Williams a season to prove himself at Boundary Park.

Williams faces a challenge to break into the first team as ahead of him are Lee Hughes, Craig Davies, Chris O’Grady, Lewis Alessandra, Deane Smalley and Matty Wolfenden.

Another former Manchester United player is in the news as Kieran Lee has become Athletic’s first casualty of the campaign.

Lee, a versatile player who can appear in a number of roles, has sustained a slight hamstring strain and is expected to be out for between seven and 10 days.

Physios Marc Czuczman and Jon Guy attribute the lack of injuries to the players being given fitness schedules for the close season to help keep in shape.

As Lee was signed after his team-mates went on their summer break, he did not undertake the same work as they did.

Athletic and Rochdale are planning a tribute to former player Ernie Cooksey, who died last week at the age of 28, before their Carling Cup tie at Spotland on Tuesday, August 12.