Michael Smith fully focussed on keeping unbeaten run going.
Peterborough United full-back Michael Smith has heaped praise on his team-mates as Posh try and extend their unbeaten run to eight games unbeaten in all competitions this weekend at Blackpool.The 27-year-old, Northern Irishman said: ‘It’s an absolute joy playing with some of the young lads. It’s an open game we’re playing at the moment, me and Callum, with Callum at left back, we’re advised to get forward a lot, which we both like. We’re the width in the team, the manager (Westley) tells us that, we’ve contributed to a few assists so far this season, hopefully that continues as we go from strength to strength.
'It’d be nice to get a goal, Callum’s got one, so I’m chasing him, we’re going to see who’s got the most goals at the end of the season, it’s a bit of healthy competition and that’s what you need in the squad to improve and to win games.’
Smith also commented on the squad’s preparation for the busy Christmas period by saying; ‘With the game on Boxing Day and the game on the 28th, it’s all about recovery and eating right, not so much about the training, we just have to be professional enough to do that and get it right so we can win games over the Christmas period, as it is, they’re crucial games.’
Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill was in the stands for the recent FA Cup tie against Luton Town and Smith admits he still harbours hopes of a call-up: ‘It’s nice to hear things like that, but we’ve got to concentrate on club football, if any of us do get into the squad or get a few games under our belt at international level then that is great.
'The great thing is that he (Michael O’Neill) is coming to watch, which just shows that we’re playing well and the team’s playing well, and we just need to continue that. Most footballers dream of playing of playing at international level at a big tournament, the manager (Graham Westley) has had a word with me, he’s pushing me to get into that squad and that’s the extra bit of incentive players need to work hard on Saturdays and perform well,' Smith said.