Ryan Williams is hoping to play at least three matches at the end of this season and believes he has finally found the cause of his injury nightmare.

The 22-year-old Australian midfielder was former head coach Lee Johnson's record signing when he joined Barnsley last summer from Fulham but he has failed to complete 90 minutes since then with two starts and four substitute appearances.

"My goal is to get at least three games in this season," Williams told the Chronicle.

"That might be in the regular season or the play-offs if we get there.  But, if it doesn't happen, then that's fine and I will just work hard in the off-season and come back fitter and stronger.

"The Johnstone's Paint Trophy final is going to come a bit too early for me but I will be cheering the lads on.  This injury has been the hardest thing I have had to deal with in my career but we know what the problem is now and I'm progressing really well.

"I am still not trying to rush things because I've done that before and made it worse. "It's actually my pelvis that is not in the right position and that is what it has all stemmed from.

"We would have never known that unless we had been to see the specialist we saw a few weeks ago.  But now everything is sorted and I am back on track."

Williams became a firm favourite at Oakwell during a loan spell last season but returned to Fulham in November 2014 to have an operation. He had not played another first team game by the time he signed for the Reds on a permanent basis seven months later.

Williams has been struggling to stay fit ever since as he played once in September, once in November, twice in December and twice in January. He started the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy clash with Fleetwood and came off the bench against Blackpool and Shrewsbury near the start of the winning run that has taken the Reds into the play-offs. He has been mainly a bystander as Barnsley have turned their season around.

"The boys have got a lot of confidence in themselves and believe in what they are doing. It is a bit like Leicester in the Premier League.     If we had just started the season off like that we would be right up there at the top.  I am very positive at the moment. There's no point in sulking about my injury. I am excited. All the boys are buzzing and playing really well and we are sixth in the league.

"What is there to complain about? I have an awesome job, I just haven't been able to do it much lately.  I want to help Barnsley as much as I can and they have been helping me."