Boss Paul Jewell says it’s important that defender Tommy Smith gets rest during what will be a busy summer of international action for the 22-year-old. Smith will be away with the New Zealand senior squad for friendlies and World Cup qualifiers, then with the U23 side for the Olympics in London.

Jewell told the club site: "It's a difficult one for Tommy because the Olympics is one of the biggest - if not the biggest sports event in the world.

"He's going to be away with New Zealand in the Solomon Islands from May 20th until June 12th as well, so it's going to be a hectic schedule for him.

"It's important he gets his rest because he has to be careful that when he comes back to us he's not put himself in a position of being burnt out."

The New Zealand senior side play El Salvador and Honduras in friendlies later this month, then Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in World Cup qualifiers in June. The U23s play Belarus, Brazil and Egypt at London 2012.

Smith is expected to put pen to paper on a new contract this summer with his current terms up at the end of June.

Meanwhile, defender Damien Delaney says he’s looking forward to Euro 2012 despite missing out on a place in the Republic of Ireland squad: "I know a lot of my mates back home are already planning road trips out to the Euros, or just looking forward to watching the games in local bars back in Ireland. It will be good to join them and support the lads as a fan.”

Elsewhere, defender Ibrahima Sonko says he wasn’t surprised to be released by the Blues and is confident he’ll find another club this summer: “At the end of the day, I hadn’t played much in the last 18 games so I didn’t expect too much.

“I have been in football so long that I just view it as another step that I have to move on to. In life, things happen for a reason and I am sure I will get something else.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

walberswick added 15:22 - May 8 Smith is expected to put pen to paper on a new contract this summer with his current terms up at the end of June. Don't bank on it, PJ.
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Garv added 15:26 - May 8 Nice words from Sonko there. Big summer for Smith.
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bluelady added 15:33 - May 8 walberswick is there nothing you wont put a negative spin on? Good grief your life must be miserable. Garv agree, its kinda a make or break year next year.
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PauloJulio added 15:51 - May 8 Would prefer it if he signed the contract before he left, otherwise if he plays a blinder he might get offered something better.
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not_a_witty_name added 15:56 - May 8 It looks like Smith is in Jewell's plans for next year which is great news. Now we just need an experienced partner for him. COYB
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Paddy39 added 16:29 - May 8 Sign Tommy before he goes on these New Zealand fixtures. If not he maybe swayed by a bigger pay packet elsewhere. Get it done now.
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DiamondGezzer added 16:31 - May 8 Makes you almost feel sorry for Mr. Sonko. Nice guy, hope he does find a club.
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blueblood66 added 17:01 - May 8 Smith will need and extended break, hopefully Jewell will have 2 new CB's in for pre season to accommodate this?
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mightytown added 17:41 - May 8 have high hopes for tommy smith, all the experience he will gain from playing international football will make him a far better player. improved alot this season and hopefully he will go on to become a very important player for us
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jas0999 added 17:52 - May 8 Smith has done well in recent months - in fact has been one of our better performers. Well done to him. HOWEVER, for me there are still too many mistakes and really believe that if we have any ambition of achieving promotion next year we need a GK and 2 x CB's - along with a RB. Smith will be excellent back-up, after all we only have two CB's left at the club! Time for PJ to build - shame he didn't last pre-season!

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Keaneish added 18:21 - May 8 Jas - i just read your post about the academy and you mentioned that you want youth and younger players coming through. You then state here that you want Smith as back-up!? Which is it? You can't have it both ways! For me, Smith starts next season with a new CB and a new RB to make-up the back 4. My only hope is that some stupid agent he may have isn't whispering in his ear, 'stall the signing until your in the shop window at the Olympics'!

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stinkiusminkius added 19:34 - May 8 Jas - I find myself agreeing with another of your posts. While Smith could be a first choice CB for a midtable team and will hopefully continue his improvement, I don't think he's up to it if we have ambitions of top 2 (or 6). I would rather see two new commanding, strong, fast CBs but obviously that is easier said than done. Deffo new GK, and maybe new RB.
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Blue041273 added 19:39 - May 8 Keaneish, No agent is going to recommend going into the Olympics with no deal in place. The risk of injury without the security of a contract is too great. That doesn't necessarily mean though that TS will automatically accept the Ipswich offer if it is perceived to be not good enough and in the absence of any other reasonable offer he may well be prepared to defer any decision on his future until after the Olympics. Hopefully though the Ipswich offer will be acceptable and this will be put to bed well before his existing contract expires on 30 June.

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blueoff added 20:13 - May 8 Let smithy play football all summer, because he needs as much practise as he can get.
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fussysnake added 20:59 - May 8 I think it is VERY important PJ signs him in the summer... He is the future and definatly up to championship standard
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i_like_that_bolder added 23:29 - May 8 Smith is not good enough, I honestly can't see what others on here do. I generally see him out of position, beaten for pace, and unfortunately at fault for a fair amount of goals. Delaney is even worse which doesn't help, but really, he's the future of our defence? Can't see us shoring up next year in that case. Would love to be proven wrong though.
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