RYAN Williams says interest from Down Under is normal practice in the build-up to a transfer window.

The Oxford United winger was recently linked with a move to Wellington Phoenix, the only New Zealand-based club in Australia’s A-League.

Williams was born in the Western Australian city of Perth, but moved to England as a teenager when he joined Portsmouth as a trainee.

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Now 28 and with well over 250 senior appearances under his belt, speculation linking him with a return home is nothing new.

Williams said: “It’s just standard. Being an Aussie, I get interest from Australia all the time, so it’s part and parcel.

“I’m 28 now and a lot of boys are starting to go back to Australia.

“Every window is similar, sometimes it comes out and sometimes it doesn’t.

“It’s just one of those things, but we’ll play it by ear.

“I want to be a part of this journey (at United), especially if we keep playing the way we’re playing and try to get in the top two.

“I want to be here and be part of this team.”

Wellington manager Ufuk Talay did not deny Williams was a target when questioned by local reporters last month.

But Phoenix this week signed another winger, Gael Sandoval, on loan from Mexican top-flight side Guadalajara.

The club are tenth in Australia's top division, with four points from their first five matches.

Whereas the transfer window runs from January 1 to 31 in Europe, it opens on January 14 and closes on February 10 in the A-League.

Williams has only played professional club football in England, but made several appearances for Australia’s age-group sides and has one senior cap.

He returned to the U’s in the summer for his second spell at the Kassam Stadium, joining from Portsmouth on a two-year deal.

Williams started the first three matches of the Sky Bet League One season, but injuries and United’s good form have limited his opportunities since August.

The wide player did not start a league game between September 4 and Saturday’s defeat to Wigan Athletic, when a well-taken goal was the highlight of an impressive performance on the wing.