Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe has scoffed at suggestions Rhys Williams is faking a hamstring injury, labelling the ongoing questions about the former Socceroo as "bollocks."
Williams has been on the outer at the A-League club since requesting a transfer to Sydney FC.
The bitter stand-off resulted in Williams being left out in the cold for five straight games, with some of those spent in the youth league.
However, the frosty relationship between him and the club appeared to thaw somewhat when Glory named him in their extended squad for Saturday's 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory.
But there was to be no comeback, with Williams failing to train on the eve of the match because of a hamstring injury.
Glory chief executive Peter Filopoulos took to Twitter on Friday night to inform the club's fans of the "good news" that the MRI and ultrasound were all clear.
But he fuelled theories that Williams may have been faking the injury when he wrote: "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink."
However, Lowe was clearly miffed when asked whether Williams had refused to play against Victory.
"Not at all. He's got a hamstring injury," an agitated Lowe said.
"What are you reading into things that aren't there? What's that all about?
"At the end of the day, have a little bit of class and talk about the game -- not bollocks.
"Talk about the game, how well we've done. We've played the second best team in the league, and all you want to talk about is negative stuff.
"Talk about good stuff. Talk about Castro. Talk about the goals."
Rhys Williams did not train tonight due to reported hamstring injury. Good news is MRI and ultrasound have shown all clear #GloryIsOurs
- Peter Filopoulos �� (@peterfilopoulos) January 20, 2017
When reminded about Filopoulos' tweet, Lowe said: "But he also put out there that [Alex] Grant had an injury and was X amount of weeks out. It's no different.
"We communicate with our people. We've got awards now from FFA for being good communicating with our fans and letting everybody know how we go.
"That's all it was. There's nothing malicious, or no intent whatsoever.
"Don't read things into things that aren't there. Don't put words into people's mouths."
Glory's five-match unbeaten run has put them just three points adrift of fourth spot.
Chris Harold (shoulder) is set to return for Saturday's away clash with Central Coast, but captain Rostyn Griffiths (suspended) and defender Alex Grant (foot) are still out of action.
Glory trailed Victory 1-0 following Besart Berisha's 58th-minute penalty.
But goals to Nebojsa Marinkovic and Adam Taggart sealed the win for Perth.
Import Diego Castro was crucial in the win, while goalkeeper Liam Reddy saved a Berisha penalty in the first half.