Swansea defender Williams picked up his award on Wednesday night at the Football Association of Wales presentation dinner at Cardiff City's new stadium.

He also took the Wales Clubman of the Year award for his contribution to Swansea's season last term when they finished just outside the play-offs in the Championship.

Now Wales boss John Toshack is almost certain to reward Williams further by making him skipper of the side to play Scotland on Saturday.

That honour will cap a remarkable spell for 25-year-old Williams, who did not make his international debut until March 2008.

Williams was playing non-league football at Hednesford six years ago, having been rejected by West Brom at 16.

Then Stockport snapped him up and a £350,000 move to Swansea followed five years later.

But since his international debut in Luxembourg, he has missed just one of the last 18 Wales matches.

In a difficult year for Wales, with continued injuries, retirements and an ever-changing side, Williams has been the model of reliability.

He has won constant praise from boss Toshack and has been the dependable heart of Wales' defence during constant adversity, which saw them fail to qualify for South Africa 2010.

Now he has been rewarded with his country's top award and follows in the footsteps of previous winners Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes, John Hartson, Neville Southall and Craig Bellamy.

Williams said: "This is a great honour to follow such great players, it has all happened a little quick for me."

Runaway winner of the Young Player of the Year was Arsenal's 18-year-old midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

The Caerphilly-born youngster is already a fixture in Wales' senior side and has broken into the Arsenal set-up with Premier League and Champions League appearances since his £5million move from Cardiff 18 months ago.

Former Wales skipper Gary Sprake received a long-service award.

Wales also honoured former Cardiff keeper Ken Jones, who was part of the squad that played in the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden.

Wales have lost Nottingham Forest defender Chris Gunter from their squad to face the Scots as the full-back has a viral infection. He joins Bellamy, James Collins, Simon Davies and Jack Collison who have also withdrawn from the squad.

Wales are expected to give St Mirren midfielder Andy Dorman his debut on Saturday, the 27-year-old having had to wait for FIFA rules to change to allow him to represent his country, having been born across the border in Chester despite spending all his school days in Wales.

He said: "It is great for me that the rule has been changed, to allow me to play for Wales after believing all my life that it was not possible because I was born in England.

"The problem for me was although I have always felt I was Welsh, and played for Wales schools, but neither of my parents are Welsh."