HE may only have been in the building for a fortnight but Randell Williams is already picking up promotion vibes at Bolton Wanderers.

The wing-back has wasted no time since signing from Hull City, leaping straight into a debut against league leaders Plymouth, coming off the bench to help the Whites into the Papa Johns Trophy semi-final, then playing his first full 90 minutes since last January in the 3-0 win against Portsmouth.

Williams had been pushed to the margins at his former club when a knee injury at the start of 2022 coincided with a change in ownership and management. But he experienced enough Championship football in his 18 months on Humberside to know he wants to return to that level as quickly as possible.

Thankfully, he feels his new club have a similar target.

“Promotion is the goal and it should be in everyone’s minds,” he said. “And we are not far off it.

“There are quite a few points between us and the top two but I don’t see why we can’t go on a fantastic run and accomplish that goal.

“You get a feel that the club is moving forward. I got a feel for it on my debut – that was against the top side in the league and I know we have to put the ball in the net, but the performance on the day showed what we are about.

“I feel like this place can skyrocket.

“I have played in the Championship before, and I want to get back there again. I think I can do that with Bolton – and I know we’re all biased but you look around, stadium, facilities, fanbase, I don’t see why we shouldn’t be in contention to go up this season, we have a strong squad, play attacking football. These are exciting times for the club.”

The major driver for Williams in his decision to leave Hull was regular football. He had been promised as such after returning from injury in the summer but felt overlooked by the time the Championship was paused for the World Cup this winter.

“Playing is the most important part of football, and if you are not playing, you are forgotten,” he said.

“It’s just like results – if you are playing well, everyone remembers, but when you are not then everyone is against you.

“So, for me, it doesn’t matter where you go, just so long as you are playing and you are playing well, you have got a manager who believes in you and the right team around you.

“I’m sitting here now and I think this was the right decision for me.”

Ian Evatt had planned to bring Williams to Bolton before losing Jack Iredale to injury for the season. His hope is that the 26-year-old Londoner can balance out the attacking threat which has been offered by Liverpool loanee Conor Bradley all season, and on early evidence the signs are good.

“I think you have to have confidence in yourself as a footballer, otherwise it will show,” said Williams.

“The gaffer has brought me here for a reason. I know Conor has been fantastic for us this season and it is my job to come here and try to bring as much quality as he has, if not more, and get goals and wins.”

Williams has also brought with him a ‘secret weapon’ – a long throw which had apparently not been factored in when Wanderers scouted him at Hull.

Evatt’s Wanderers have rarely been able to call upon such directness, and though the wing-back’s throw seemed to take his team-mates by surprise at first, it is now there to be used.

Williams also says the skill comes completely naturally.

“I just throw the ball,” he said. “It’s probably just technique and I’ve never practised them, I have just always been able to throw the ball long.

“I am pretty sure anyone could do it if they learn how to do it properly.”

Williams has scored at the University of Bolton Stadium before, helping Exeter City to a 2-1 win at the end of the 2020/21 season and derailing Wanderers’ hopes of winning promotion before the final weekend.

Evatt’s team had impressed him on the day – but it was not until this month that he saw the Bolton supporters first-hand.

“I went to the Barnsley game where they won 3-0, and the away fans were fantastic, then having my debut against Plymouth, I thought they were excellent again,” he said. “It is all you can ask for as a player, and so it’s our job to go and get wins to reward them for that support.”