DANNY Williams is confident Reading FC have the quality to finish in the top six in the Championship this season.

The USA international – who scored the third fastest goal in Reading’s history in the 2-0 win against Middlesbrough last weekend – insists the play-offs are well within reach for Steve Clarke’s side.

Williams’ terrific early goal plus a late penalty from in-form Nick Blackman secured a fifth win in six league games for the Royals to leave them third in the table heading into the fortnight’s international break.

And Williams is confident they can stay in touch with the top teams and challenge for promotion back to the Premier League.

The 26-year-old midfielder declared: “I think we’re going to finish in the top six at the end of the season because we have too much quality not to.

“We are starting games well. We scored in the first minute against Middlesbrough which changes the dynamic of the game because it opens the game up.

“That’s good for us because I think we are one of the best counter attacking teams in the league, whether home or away.

“The most important thing for me was another clean sheet because we look solid at the back.

“Now we have an international break followed by three more important club games against Charlton, Rotherham and Fulham which look good for us on paper, though these can be the toughest ones.”

However, Williams, currently on international duty with USA, also warned: “You can never rest in this division. We saw Derby dominate the Championship last season then go on a bad run and drop out of the top six.

“It would be good if we can stay up there, but we have to remain calm. It’s too early in the season to dream, we will let other people do that. I concentrate on the hard work on the training ground and see what happens.”