This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson will be looking for a reaction from his players tonight when they host Charlton Athletic at Ashton Gate, following a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Luton Town at the weekend, a result that left the Robins in ninth place in the Championship, six points behind leaders West Brom.

One player who is looking to carve out a future at City, is experienced defender Ashley Williams who joined in the summer on a short-term deal until mid-January, making six appearances so far for the club.

But does Williams deserve to have his deal extended at Bristol City?

We discuss.........

Josh Cole

“Whilst Williams has illustrated some signs of promise since joining Bristol City in August, manager Lee Johnson must not be hasty in terms of offering the defender a new deal.

“Currently in the twilight of his career, there is no guarantee that the 35-year-old will be able to maintain his fitness over the course of an entire season.

“Although Williams is very experienced at Championship level, Johnson must consider whether the impending return of Tomas Kalas will result in the former Wales international being dropped to the substitutes bench.

“If this does occur, it may not be worth extending Williams’ deal as he is unlikely to play a major role in the club’s future given his age.”

Ben Lang

"Definitely. Williams has probably exceeded most Robins fans' expectations since his arrival, and he has certainly done enough to warrant an extended contract.

"The defender has proved to be a solid replacement for the injured Tomas Kalas in the Bristol City side, and he has certainly proven that he is still able to perform in the Championship.

"I would expect Kalas to regain his place in the side following his return from injury, but City should still look to keep hold of Williams as he will be able to provide depth throughout the campaign.

"This is something the club should look to get done sooner rather than later as there is bound to be interest in Williams when is contract expires in January."

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George Harbey

"I'd say that he does deserve a new deal at Ashton Gate to be honest.

"The Championship is a long, hard season, and they will need to use their squad to full effect if they are to cope with the large amount of games, especially in the winter period.

"His performances have been slightly mixed so far, but Williams is an experienced defender who is likely to be a key figure in the dressing room.

"He's getting on a bit now, but just like Michael Dawson at Nottingham Forest, you need that type of player if you want to excel in the second tier in my opinion."