Williams reached out to released Dons scholars to give them guidance

Life after football could be a worrying time for the youngsters released at 18, but George Williams reached out to many of the scholars after they were released by MK Dons in the summer to reassure them.

Williams was released before he could sign a professional deal with the club, and went to Loughborough University, where his career took off as well as gaining a degree.With his career coming full circle after spells at Worcester City and Barnsley, Williams says he was on hand to offer support to the scholars Dons released to reassure them that their time in football is not necessarily over.

He said: "I spoke to a lot of the scholars who left the club – I saw one of the lads was going to Loughborough which I was really happy about so I reached out to him. I've been in contact with them, and it's something I'm really big on. It's not all about your pro contract at 18, but it's what you do in the next few years to set yourself up whether it's in football or not. It's definitely something I can pass on to the younger lads."

Now entering his fifth season back at Dons, Williams is one of the longest serving players at the club and as such is one of the key men in the dressing room and on the pitch. And he admits being a vocal member of the squad is a key part of his game.

"A lot of my game is talking," he said. "It keeps me switched on, and I like to talk a lot during games and on the training pitch. It's something I do to motivate others but to keep myself firing on all cylinders. I take a lot of pride in that and hopefully it helps the squad.

"Going into my fifth season, I'm at the peak age of my career and I want to be playing the best football of my career. I'm looking to kick on. I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself to improve. I'm my own biggest critic and this season I'm going to bring the best out of myself."