Central defender Tommy Smith says he is targeting a regular place in the Town side this season after impressing at this summer’s World Cup with New Zealand. The All Whites were the only unbeaten side at the competition but narrowly failed to progress from their group.
Smith told the club site: "I was in and out of the team last season. I had a couple of injuries and they came at bad times for me as well, having just got back in the side.
"The World Cup was a great experience and has given me a lift and hopefully I can use that to help me get in the team.
"That's my main target for the new season - to impress the manager and force my way into the side on a regular basis."
The Macclesfield-born defender was placed 217th in FIFA's official Castrol Index Ranking, ahead of a number of more illustrious names.
Despite having made an impact on the international stage, injuries have limited Smith’s senior domestic appearances to just 37 starts and three games from the bench since making his first team debut during his loan spell with Stevenage Borough in February 2008.
The 20-year-old made 15 appearances during his two months with the then-Blue Square Premier side, has made 14 starts and the three sub appearances for Town and featured eight times for Brentford during his spell at Griffin Park last season.
Smith, who has now been capped seven times by New Zealand, is due back in pre-season training next week, having been given extra time off after the World Cup.