Ryan Williams was surprised to become a Brentford player last week, but he is out to help head coach Marinus Dijkhuizen’s gamble pay-off.

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder penned a one-year deal last week to join the Championship club after being released by League Two Morecambe.

The former Chester City trainee’s career has stalled in League Two over the last 12 months after Williams had attracted the attention of other Championship clubs with a long range strike in a League Cup win for the Shrimps over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

But far from fearing the step up in quality the Birkenhead-born player is determined to back up the stats that tempted Dijkhuizen and co-directors of football Phil Giles and Rasmus Ankersen to take a punt on the pint-sized playmaker.

“I was a little bit surprised to get the call at first,” said Williams, who first joined Morecambe in 2012 on a short-term contract worth just £100-a-week.

“Twelve months ago, I knew there was some interest from a couple of teams in this league, but it has gone quiet since then.

“When I got the phone call I was delighted, because everyone knows Brentford is a club moving in the right direction.

“The last 12 months have gone a bit sour, but that is part and parcel of football. You’ve got to keep working and improving your game.

“I’ve always believed I can play at this level. You have to keep that mentality.

“Brentford have a good record of bringing in lads from the lower leagues.

“I think the Championship will suit me. In League Two there are a lot of long balls, but I like to get on the ball and make things happen.

“I’ve watched a fair bit of the Championship and there is a lot more ball played on the floor which suits me down to the ground.”

Brentford lacked a threat from set-pieces last term, with Sam Saunders, left, unable to force his way into the starting line-up.

With Williams describing himself as a deadball specialist that would appear to be where the stats suggest he might be able to help the Bees next term.

He has spent much of his fledgling career learning his trade in the lower leagues having turned out for Chester, Northern Premier League Division One North side Colwyn Bay and Welsh non-League teams Llandudno and Rhyl in the Cymru Alliance.