Tommy Smith has admitted reaching rock-bottom earlier this season — but he insists he never thought his time was up at Ipswich. Having recently returned to the side as a sub in the FA Cup at Hull and as a starter in the games against Birmingham and Blackpool, the central defender is enjoying what may be seen as an unexpected new lease of life at Portman Road.

Smith, 21, was low on form and confidence in the first few games of the season as Town failed to build on an opening-day win at Bristol City.

He said: “It was the lowest point of my career even before we lost 7-1 at Peterborough — I felt worse than I did when I broke my ankle and was out for some time a couple of years ago.

“At least with the injury I knew I was going to come back and I had a positive mindset. But everybody gets setbacks in their career and it’s how you come back from them that determines what sort of player you are going to be.

“I wouldn’t say my confidence was shattered but it was definitely low. I’m usually quite confident in myself and my ability, and I knew there was nothing else for it but to buckle down in training and prove to the manager what I was capable of doing.”

While others may have been tempted to consider a future elsewhere, the Macclesfield-born academy graduate is adamant that a fresh start was the furthest thing from his mind.

Smith added: “I never thought like that. I was always thinking that as long as I put in the effort and performed on the training ground I would eventually turn the manager’s head in my favour.”

Photo: Action Images

irishtim added 14:38 - Jan 20 Cmon Tommy if you show your ability it will be like a new signing for us. You can do it.
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Sindre94 added 14:41 - Jan 20 I believe in him to be fair, still alot to learn!
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cornishnick added 14:42 - Jan 20 You have to feel sorry for him at Peterborough. Sent off before he had even touched the ball!
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hampstead_blue added 14:43 - Jan 20 the rest of this season will be a great test for the young lad. if he comes through well it will be like a new signing. It also shows a real humility in the lad. Good luck to him.
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Bleedingblue added 14:50 - Jan 20 Good attitude towards the club. Give him a chance, he's still only 21. Will be upset if Delaney and Leadboots play tomorow instead of Smith and Hyam.
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BlueWalloo added 15:07 - Jan 20 Too slow and not good enough to get us up... Remember him backing off Jamie Mackie last year against QPR until he was on the edge of the area, Mack went round with ease and slotted home... Good player for a Col U etc
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BrianTablet added 15:09 - Jan 20 Let's hope he turns into a McAuley....slated at first, then turns it around. Tough ask though, with our defence!
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irishtim added 15:12 - Jan 20 Bluewallo: Get off his case. He is trying & will imo prove himself to be a very important player for itfc in the future.
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arc added 15:12 - Jan 20 Good luck, Tommy.
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andygizmo added 15:15 - Jan 20 shame but i suspect that when Leicester sign Morgan from Nottingham Forest this weekend our move for St Ledger will be back on.
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BlueWalloo added 15:15 - Jan 20 IrishTim ....we'll see...
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KenDubZ added 15:20 - Jan 20 Also need to stop running like a goose!!
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TractorBeezer added 15:34 - Jan 20 That's the right attitude and spirit Tommy. Good luck
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Lightningboy added 15:50 - Jan 20 Hope he turns it around and makes a career for himself here. Can you imagine what Burley could've done with some of the young players here : Smith,Hyam,Peters,Carson,Murray..not to mention Garvan,Rhodes etc etc. We need to stop bringing in over the hill journeymen & get back to what we do best..bringing through the talent - and preferably not selling it off first chance we get.

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irishtim added 16:00 - Jan 20 Bluewalloo: WE will indeed my friend. Lets for the sake of itfc that im right.
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fourth added 16:56 - Jan 20 Let's sort out defence management. With 0,1 against per game, we are in with an excellent chance up front. And we need a brain at the back to Captain. I don't care whether PJ doesn't believe in on-field captains or not...WE need one.
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TractorJed added 18:36 - Jan 20 Think some people on here forget how old this lad is!!! One minute your moaning the sqauds too old and then a youngest who gonna need time to gain expereince etc is moaned about as not being good enough. Make your minds up!!!
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TimmyH added 19:09 - Jan 20 Yeah best of luck to him, had a great world cup alonside Ryan Nelson so there must be some talent there, just needs so get some confidence back.
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jas0999 added 20:26 - Jan 20 Not good enough - yet Clegg and PJ fail to bring in a CB this week. Both should leave the club and now. dark days.
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pottyblue added 20:26 - Jan 20 should be given a start till the end of the season let him learn cant be any worse than what we already have he is the future just needs time a games
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CornardBlue added 21:06 - Jan 20 Thought Tommy had a good game last week, we need to stick with him and let him develop. With our defensive record i would get the Beat and Warky in to give them some lessons to our defenders.
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budgieplucker added 23:46 - Jan 20 If Tommy Smith was playing alongside Allan Hunter then he would be seen as a rising star. As tractorjed said in his post fans need to make up their minds, if a young lad hits a bout of poor form is he going to get encouragement from the PR fans or slated !!! Young players = inconsistency and mistakes. The problem is this season old players also = inconsistency and mistakes. Keep your head up Tommy you are a good young player, hopefully you will get the right experienced partner(s) to help you improve and become a much better one.

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bluelady added 23:57 - Jan 20 Jas take a happy pill for everyones sake, he was very good last sat.
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algarvefan added 00:51 - Jan 21 I watched Smith progress as a schoolboy with the club, he is a fine young player surrounded by older idiots in my opinion. One of the best young players we have but needs an experienced and capable CB to bring him on in the big game situation. Tommy Smith will one day captain Ipswich and be a damn good one. Get behind him...not on his back, he's 21 FFS!!!!
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ThatMuhrenCross added 01:13 - Jan 21 Nice to see a player who is open about how he feels. It shows how much he cares, and that is precisely what this club needs. It needs eleven players starting on a Saturday afternoon who will give everything for the cause. Smith is a young player, and in the world of central defenders, he is particularly young. His red card at Peterborough was a down point, but in truth, it was a hideous decision by the referee which could have gone differently on another day. We must forget, this is a player who went to the World Cup with New Zealand and showed the best players in the world how to defend when he came up against the likes of Italy. He has a lot to learn still. A run in the first team will do him good, but if he is ever out of the picture, a long-term loan spell will be just what is needed to bring him up to the level that he is clearly capable of. There are some good young players coming through that academy. Lets see them!

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