Huddersfield Town

“On a personal note it was fantastic to make my debut and I would like to thank the Manager and the rest of the staff for giving me that opportunity, but obviously the game is the most important thing and it was disappointing to lose. That has put a bit of a dampener on my own achievement,” the 21 year-old defender told htafc.com. 

“I’ve been on the First Team bench at Charlton last season and Barnsley this year. I also played in a few pre-season games which was a good experience, but tonight obviously tops them all. 

“It was a big step up tonight. We are used to playing in development games and tonight we faced a Premier League side in a Premier League stadium. In the Under-21 games you’re often at the training grounds and this was a brilliant experience, although every game is different and helps me improve as a player. I thought the majority of us coped really well and that can only bode well for the future.”

Despite impressing with his performance at the KC Stadium tonight, Smith knows he will have to bide his time for a possible Championship debut with Town currently boasting the second best defensive record in the division:

“The three centre halves have been fantastic this season so it will be difficult for me; I know I will have to patient and wait for my time. When the Manager does call on me all I can do is produce as good a performance as I can. Hopefully he thinks I’ve done well tonight and knows that if anything goes wrong with the First Team lads, I can step in. 

“I started my career as a right back and I can play at left back as well, but the Manager likes me at centre back and I’m happy to play anywhere! When I was at Manchester City I looked up to the likes Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta, but now I’m aspiring to follow in the footsteps of Peter Clarke, Anthony Gerrard and Joel Lynch.”