Tommy Smith believes that partnering Damien Delaney in the centre of the Town defence has helped to make him a better player.

Although Delaney is by far the senior partner of the double act, he has retained his slot on the left side and 21-year-old Smith has instead switched.

Smith said: “I have to use my right foot a lot more and it is helping me to improve on that side. It is helping my development as a player but the main thing is that I am playing regularly in a team that is doing well.

“I really don’t mind where I play. I just want to hold on to my place between now and the end of the season and help the team finish as high as possible in the league.”

Smith explained that manager Paul Jewell’s decision to adopt a ‘back to basics’ approach to Town’s defending had paid off in recent weeks, leading to just one defeat in the last eight games.

He added: “As defenders first and foremost you have to clear your lines and not do anything too flash. Our job is to keep the ball as far away from the goal as possible.

“If we can get it down and play we try to do that but last week the pitch at Hull wasn’t the best so the gaffer just said we should concentrate on clearing our lines.”

Smith was in the wilderness for months after he was sent off in the crushing 7-1 defeat at Peterborough in August but looks forward to Saturday’s return meeting as an established member of Jewell’s rejuvenated side.

He said: “I had to get back into the manager’s thoughts and I’m glad I have been able to do that. Now, hopefully I can carry on doing well until the end of the season.

“It was never a question of doubting my own ability. You must always have confidence in yourself. At the time it wasn’t going well for me — and I asked myself why I wasn’t doing as well as I should have been.

“I got my head down, worked hard and luckily I got my break to get back in the team. I knew I would have to wait but I was ready to take the chance when it came. There were doubts that crept into my mind but these have been put to bed now.

“As long as the team is doing well, that is the main thing. On any given day some players are not going to be at their best. It’s about grinding out results and that is what we have done in the past two games at Southampton and Hull. We haven’t performed as well as we can but we have nicked a couple of away points, which can be vital.”

Photos: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

JohnyJohnson added 13:48 - Mar 18 Looking forward to seeing you develop further Tommy, I think some people forget that you are only 21. Top player in a few years hope you stay with us.
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