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Lambert on Smith: He's Just Been Training - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Paul Lambert has dismissed suggestions that former Blues centre-half Tommy Smith is training at the club for any reason other than to use the Blues' facilities as he keeps fit in the MLS off-season.

Last month Smith, 29, told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch that he was training at Playford Road with the U23s as he looked to keep fit ahead of New Zealand’s November internationals.

The central defender left the Blues in January 2018 to join MLS side Colorado Rapids, who announced last month that they wouldn’t be taking up the year's option on his existing contract.

However, Smith had previously told Life’s a Pitch that he was in talks about new terms and, according to reports in Denver, those discussions about staying with the Rapids are still ongoing.

"He’s just been training,” Lambert said when asked about Smith’s presence at Playford Road.

"He asked if he could come in and train and he’s been training with the U23s just to give him training facilities that was all really. Nothing more than that.”

Despite Toto Nsiala being injured and Lambert hinting that there may be other centre-halves struggling for Saturday's game against Coventry, he insisted a return for Smith isn’t on the cards.

"We’d four centre-halves and we’re down to a couple left," he reflected. "But no, there’s nothing in that.”

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