Town defender Tommy Smith is convinced he can return a better player than before he was injured — and he cites none other than tennis world number one Andy Murray as his inspiration.

Smith and Murray have something in common in that they both underwent the same back operation and the Scot’s physio, Mark Bender, played a key role in the player’s rehabilitation.

“The club physio, Matt Byard, hadn’t had to contend with this injury before, so he sought the advice of someone who had experienced it and that was Mark, who is Andy Murray’s physio. It turned out that Andy had undergone exactly the same surgery that I had.

“We went down to London to see Mark early in the rehab process and apart from helping a lot with his advice he massively encouraged me to take up Pilates.

“I’d done it before but hadn’t kept it up, but he believed it to be so vital that he advised me not just to do it now but to continue with it right through to the very end of my career.

“I didn’t cross paths with Andy but we’ve been in touch by email a couple of times.

“The fact that Andy not only returned to playing but became world number one again shows that having the operation can make you better than you were before.

“You have to try to take positives from every scenario and I’ve worked a lot on my core strength, to make sure a relapse doesn’t occur in the future.

“Once I’ve played a few first team games and got my sharpness back I’d like to think I will be in a lot better physical shape than I was before.

“I’m now doing Pilates five days a week and I’ve even bought my own reformer. That’s just to ensure my core muscles, front and back, stay strong enough to support my back.

“Was I difficult to live with during the process? You’ll have to ask my missus about that. I think I was alright and to be fair she says she expected me to be a lot worse than I was, so I’ll take that as a positive!”

Smith was not short of company during his recovery programme, Town having suffered more than their fair share of injuries this season, which has been a major factor in Mick McCarthy’s team being unable to repeat their play-off challenge of the previous two seasons.

He added: “It always helps, when you are injured, to have someone working alongside you in the gym. If you’re in there on your own it can be a very lonely place.

“It wasn’t just Luke Hyam, there was also Giles Coke, who has been injured for a while. Brett Pitman and Adam Webster as well. We were all in there, helping each other along and making sure we were all doing our rehab properly.

“Luke is a very good professional and it’s not through lack of any sort of desire. He wants to be playing football and his goal was to be involved at Norwich on Sunday.

“He travelled with the squad but unfortunately for him he didn’t quite make the bench.

“But he won’t be far away now and that will add another dimension to us — another competitive midfielder who can come in and do a very good job for us.

“It’s all about playing — that’s why we play the game. We all grew up loving football and wanting to play football.

“I know there are a few who have said in the past that they only played for the money.

“I can’t remember names but there was someone who played for Spurs [Benoit Assou-Ekotto]. But I’ve never come across anyone like that. All the people I know play for the love of the game, first and foremost.”

Photo: TWTD

osborne added 07:44 - Mar 4 Good luck Tommy. You have the right attitude to be the very best that you can be
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whosroundisitanyway added 10:13 - Mar 4 Great story Tommy. Just don't try jumping over the net when we win!
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cat added 10:27 - Mar 4 I was down on smith last season (not literally lol!!) as he was prone to mistakes, but with his return from injury recently I have a fresh optimism towards him. Whether it's down to the fact that there has been some woeful defending during that time or results going against us, either way I'm liking it. Good luck today, 3 pts will be very welcome.
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WorcesterBlue added 10:37 - Mar 4 Played in his correct position he is our best defender imo and along with Hyam and hopefully Bishop too gives us some good depth. Hopefully this with the new additions can help us rebuild and push on again playing some better football. Still v concerned with MMs approach (safety first) and his picking of players with no pace (Skuse, Berra, McGoldrick). We are frankly ponderous and even if you do pass the ball, if you do it as slowly as us you fail to create opportunities. Where's the pace Mick?

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Wacko added 11:13 - Mar 4 All very well pal but we need you playing football not tennis
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Seasider added 11:52 - Mar 4 Expect he will be on the bench again;but could get in. Wouldn't want Manager to change formation though,and would be very surprised if he drops Skuse.Think he should, as Huws wasn't anywhere near as good against Norwich alongside 'Sideways' as he was playing with 'Dave'. Getting excited for a 1-1 draw when Jonas' goal was only effort on target,sitting 16th in table with only one win in 9 doesn't seem that good to me. Perhaps that is after listening to Roger and Warky talking about when we were a premier club in Europe,as well as England,has made me realise how far Town have fallen under Dino and the ticket tout.

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harlingblue added 03:13 - Mar 6 Good news that you are on your rightful path back to the first team, I see you as a future Captain and centre or left of a back three.
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