Boss Roy Keane expects Tommy Smith to push for a place in the first team this season after his exploits with New Zealand at the World Cup. The central defender has been given an extra three weeks off to recover from the All Whites’ unbeaten campaign in South Africa.

Keane said: “I thought he did reasonably well, the experience will do him the world of good.

“For Tommy to go to the World Cup and have a decent campaign, he’ll be a much better player for it.

“I’m looking forward to Tommy coming back in two or three weeks and, having played in the World Cup, he’ll be fighting to get into our starting XI in the Championship. Competition can only be good for our club.”

Smith played in all New Zealand's games, helping them to three draws which saw them narrowly miss out on qualification for the knockout stages but still finish ahead of Italy in their group. The 20-year-old is due back at Portman Road on July 16th.

Photo: Action Images

stiffshorts added 08:38 - Jun 30 "push for a place" Roy?? Whaaaaat!!!!!!! He's a first choice now. It's the rest having to earn the right. After the way Tommy played in Africa he's proved he's the best defender at the club, come on Roy stop being silly and teasing us, "pushing for a place" indeed, ha, ha, ha............funny.
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RainhamBlue1 added 08:39 - Jun 30 I was very impressed with Tommy Smith's performances in South Africa
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Karlosfandangal added 08:41 - Jun 30 Smith at Center Back and Delaney at right back? O'Conner left back Cevilli left wing Wickham up front It will be like 4 new signings!!!!!!!!!!!!
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superblueflude added 08:42 - Jun 30 As much as Tommy impressed, he did show his lack of maturity with some of his decisions, against italy not only the Penatly but a major mistake nearly led to a goal at the near post, he's doing well, progressing well, but it's still to early to say he's a definate starter.
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Yallop added 08:49 - Jun 30 He'll push for the first team. It's up to Smith now to prove it in pre season that he's worth a start ahead of the twin towers. Oh and has someone on here really suggested Delaney for right back !
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generalpublic added 08:52 - Jun 30 i just wish roy had gained the same sort of experience during the break but no such luck..all we get with roy is a bad experience
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randomblue added 08:53 - Jun 30 Karlosfandangal - are you mental! Delaney has been shocking when he's played anywhere other than in CB role!
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PimsNumber1 added 08:54 - Jun 30 delaney was a hopeless left back and is left footed. right back ? your joking As for smith i would agree with Keane , he did reasonably well. certainly not as good as some on here recon. Was caught out many times and has a bad habit of backing off and turning his back on the ball. When you look at smith as our cover at CB you then realise jkust how bloody good mc A and delaney actually are.

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robbo123 added 08:54 - Jun 30 Delaney at right back!?!?!?!? he was quite possibly the worst left back i have ever seen at town. to then stick him at right back after he developed a decent partnership with mcauley at centre half would be crazy.
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Wallingford_Boy added 09:20 - Jun 30 Smith will be decent back up along with Grandad Eastman but thats it for the time being, lacks the maturity required for such a crucial position.
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Town22 added 09:22 - Jun 30 Smith did OK not brilliant. Don't forget that he was part of a back 3, so had 2 other centre halves covering for his mistakes, lack of pace, etc. He'll be better this season than last, but don't get carried away that he's the new Mogga!
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Jimmy86 added 09:26 - Jun 30 I personally would give tommy a run of games at left back, because he played on the left side of a back 3 in south africa, he did well enough and will only come back a better player for the experience. The penalty he will learn from, but on another day with another ref it might not have even been given !!!
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Lightningboy added 09:29 - Jun 30 Tommy did well in the world cup but I think he proved last season that he's not cut out to play at left back..he'll be fantastic cover for McAuley & Delaney though.
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el_nino added 09:35 - Jun 30 If we got Ryan Nelson to partner Smith then I'd be happy...that guy is seriously good, and was probably the reason Smith performed so well too.
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brogansnose added 09:45 - Jun 30 The experience can only have been good for him and by the end of the season he should be knocking hard on the first team door.
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Up_The_Town84 added 09:46 - Jun 30 and yoru seriously suggesting Ryan Nelson would come to Town? some fans dont actually have a clue!
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naa added 09:49 - Jun 30 Karlosfandangal: the left-footed Delaney, who was terrible at left-back at right-back? I assume that was some kind of joke. It would certainly be like a new signing. But a really, really bad one.
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buresmac added 09:55 - Jun 30 Only one way to get experience and thats by playing. Other option is McCauley at right back, thats his international position. Interested in the rumours on various sites re rifts between Keane and Clegg/Evans, anyone in the know?
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Surco72 added 09:56 - Jun 30 The only way Smith should be pushing a first team place is if Mac or Delaney are injured ,still a lot to learn but great cover . The worrying thing is if Mac leaves, is that why Keane is saying Smith will be pushing first team ?
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blueherts added 09:58 - Jun 30 Keane is an outsider - he is our Capello - No one likes him - everybody hates him that is our Roy FACT - AND HE DONT CARE But we have Mike Pejic so I am not worried
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mjw_1983 added 10:29 - Jun 30 who is mike pejic? stiffshorts you can't just move delaney to accomodate smith
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Karlosfandangal added 12:22 - Jun 30 Was Joking. Point being that Roy seems to think we will have to run with the squad we have and we are still looking to off load palyers. Steads Counagos Healy Garvan etc. If we suffer Injuries we will be to the bare bones and I would not be surprised after some of the decisions Roy made last year for him to stick Delaney to right back. I feel as do most all we need is a good right back (better than Wright) and the back four will be fairly solid. Really feel we need to push the boat out and get a good striker.

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IpswichElvis added 13:06 - Jun 30 Hope Tommy does good next season.......
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Jimmy86 added 13:36 - Jun 30 I dunno what anyone else thinks but id make Jamie Peters our regular right back next season, he can play there and play there well. his versatility is brilliant but can also shoot himself in the foot !!!! he played more or less every position in our team last season but for me his best position is right back, he has an awesome spring for a small lad and has pace to burn, for me we may not need a right back, we need a decent striker (Chopra, fingers crossed) and a couple of midfielders (a defensive minded 1 to free leadbitter/norris and also a creative 1 to provide better service to the strikers)

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corshamblue added 13:40 - Jun 30 Good Young Lad but needs to find a yard and stop players simply running past him! He's not got the yard in his legs so he needs to find it in reading the game better. Time will tell, but as a CB in front of Mc and Delaney, No thanks. Decent Cover, and will push for a place with O'Conner at the back, will be interesting to see what Defenders come in and go out! is there still talk of McA going to Rangers?

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