A LALIGA manager has claimed that he does not want to think about losing his talisman to the Africa Cup of Nations later this season.
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Since being integrated into Athletic Bilbao's first team eight years ago, with each passing season, Inaki Williams has grown in prominence and ability for the Basque club.
The 29-year-old is having his best start to a league campaign this season, having scored six goals and provided three assists in his opening 14 LALIGA matches, and his latest goal salvaged a 1-1 draw for Lehoiak against high-flying Girona at the Estadi Montilivi on Monday night.
While Williams' performances have propelled Athletic to fifth in the current standings, manager Ernesto Valverde will soon be without his services at a crucial time of the season.
The forward's international allegiance switch last year from Spain to Ghana means he is in strong contention to be a part of Chris Hughton's side that will be heading to the Ivory Coast in January next year, but with a few league matches to play before then, Valverde has claimed he does not want to think about losing his star striker while he can still be utilised.
"He's in a good moment. Inaki always is. When the African Cup arrives we'll start to stab each other, but for now we're going to spend the month of December with him and we're not going to regret it ahead of time," Valverde told members of the media, as per Relevo.
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Williams scored his first goal for the Black Stars in the most recent international break, in their 1-0 win over Madagascar, and given he is producing his best output as far as goal contributions are concerned this far into a season, Hughton will be hoping his performances can translate into continental glory.
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