SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Eight years ago Andy Williams was making his international debut for Wales against Brazil as a bright-eyed 20-year-old being tipped for big things.

With 20 appearances for Premiership Southampton already under his belt, the call from Wales in 1997 was just another sign of the left midfielder's huge potential.

Potential that was ultimately destroyed by a series of injuries and tomorrow sees the winger starting his comeback' in his Supermarine debut against Cinderford at Hunts Copse.

A further Welsh cap and over 30 games for Swindon Town followed the 3-0 defeat in Brazil until, in 2000, a hernia operation cruelly signalled the start of the end for his professional career.

Williams then strutted his struff for non-League Bath City between 2001 to 2004 but a recurrence of the hernia problem and a knee injury ruled him out for long periods, causing him to turn his back on the game.

Two further operations and a two-year break from football later, Williams will run out at Hunts Copse desperate to put his injury nightmares firmly in the past.

The 28-year-old winger, who is on a month's loan from Bath, said: "Hopefully this will be the best thing for both parties.

"After my enforced break from football to get my knee and hernia sorted I returned to Bath City earlier this season and have been training with them.

"I then got some games for Toolstation League side Bradford Town but now I feel as though I am ready for the step up in standard again.

"A few matches here should get me back to full fitness and then hopefully I can get back into Bath's first team."

The Southern League Division One West may seem a world away from visits to Anfield and Old Trafford but as far as Williams is concerned, he is just glad to be playing.

"There were times when I thought I would never play again," he said. "Three operations take it out of you and sometimes I wondered whether all the effort with the physio was worth it.

"I am getting to the end of it all now and it will just be a relief to be able to play a decent standard of football again. You really miss it when you are not involved."

Williams is not one for feeling sorry for himself but he admits he can't help thinking what might have been after his transfer to the County Ground in 1999 for £65,000.

He said: "I was playing really well there and was a regular. Then I picked the injury up and with my contract up at the end of the second season it spelt the end."

With five defeats out of their last seven league matches, Marine boss Mark Collier knows tomorrow's match is vital for their promotion dreams.

Skipper Steve Davies and Nathan Edwards will return to the squad with veteran defender Roger Emms struggling with a heavy cold.

"There is no need to panic," said Collier. "The league table does not lie and we are not in a bad position. We perhaps need to just earn a bit more luck for ourselves."