FANS will have noticed a rapid improvement from summer signing Danny Williams recently with the powerful midfielder admitting he had not done himself justice.

Hampered by an early four-match suspension, Williams has gradually settled into the side as defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation.

And although Saturday's game against Darlington was not a good one for any player, the 22-year-old is fulfiling a crucial role in Jan Molby's team.

Blessed with fine passing ability and a crunching tackle, Williams is now looking to add goals to his game.

He netted four in 48 games for previous club Wrexham.

The midfield man said after the Darlington game: "I feel I am getting a lot fitter. Gary Barnett and the gaffer have been getting me to close down more.

"I used to sit just off the back-four but you cannot afford to do that in this league. You've got to get up the field and at them.

"I am now getting more involved, winning headers and tackles. I wasn't doing myself justice before."

Williams nearly found the net in the away game at Leyton Orient only for a good save from Scott Barrett.

The former Welsh U-21 international joked: "I think that was the first time I've been in the box for two years.

"But you have to get yourself in there and Mark Blake has been helping me a lot with his experience. He's been around Premier League clubs."

The cup exit was a blow for Harriers but Williams insisted: "All we can do now is concentrate on the league and now we can push for the play-offs maybe.

"We have been playing well but it doesn't help when three strikers are not available.

"We had been doing well with Colin Larkin and Ian Foster's pace with Drewe Broughton holding the ball up. But you have got to play with the others available.

"Birdy has had one cleared off the line in the first half but all we deserved was a 1-1 draw if that."

But the controversial goal was obviously not a popular decision in the home ranks.

Williams added: "I thought the throw-in was to us. But we should have done better afterwards. The referee was getting a bit of stick and I thought he was poor."