Blow for West Brom youngster Alex Williams as he undergoes surgery after international break injury
Albion youngster Alex Williams has been ruled out until the new year after surgery on a fractured ankle.
The right-back, 20, suffered the setback in training while on international duty with Wales under-21s during the recent break and has gone under the knife.
The operation was a success and Williams, who was handed a senior debut by head coach Ryan Mason in the EFL Cup last month, will now undergo a period of rehabilitation estimated to last around three months.
Williams has made an impression on new Baggies staff this season and impressed on his debut against Derby. He arrived as a late substitute in the 1-0 Championship victory over Stoke before the international break.
Mason said: "Alex Williams picked up quite a severe ankle injury while he was away with the (Wales) under-21s and needed an operation, so he'll be out for a period of time.
"Yes (a shame for Williams) as he came on at Stoke before the international break, so to have that injury a few days afterwards on international duty is disappointing.
"But we'll support him and I'm sure he's going to come back a better player."
Williams signed a new one-year contract - with the option of a further 12 months - at The Hawthorns during the summer. The Warwickshire-born youngster has been at the club since the age of 11.
There was business in the right-back department for Albion in the summer window as long-serving full-back Darnell Furlong departed for Ipswich Town in a £4million deal.
The Baggies responded with the capture of Chelsea prospect Alfie Gilchrist in a deal worth around £1.2m.
Mason's Baggies head to unbeaten and table-topping Middlesbrough in the Championship on Friday night in a bid to respond to last Saturday's first league defeat of the campaign against Derby.
