Young central defender Chris Smith has been recalled from his loan with Vanarama National League South Chelmsford City and is in the Town squad travelling to the East Midlands for tomorrow’s game against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The 20-year-old academy product, who recently put pen to paper on a new contract which runs to the summer of 2019 with the club having an option for a further year, made his debut and so far only senior appearance for the Blues at Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup in August.
The former Kesgrave High School pupil returns as Town are short of central defensive options with skipper Luke Chambers out for the season, having dislocated his shoulder and fractured both a rib and his sternum at Brentford, and Adam Webster also sidelined at present due to a hamstring injury.
Smith made 28 appearances for the Clarets across two loan spells this season.