On Friday we ran the first part of an interview with new signing Tommy Smith. In this second part he talks about his role for the new campaign and what his hope for the team is.
Footy Mad: What sort of role are you anticipating taking in a team that already has Paul Peschisolido, Junior, and Marcus Tudgay?
Tommy Smith: I don’t know really. I know I’m not going to come here and expect to play. I’m going to work hard and I’ve got to try to earn my right to start in the team. There are three other good strikers here, and I think it will be a good decision to come here and maybe learn off them and see what happens. I’m sure with us four we can cause defences some problems.
FM: You are not a big rugged centre forward, but a football playing striker which is the sort of player that George Burley likes.
TS: Definitely. I‘ve noticed it about the other strikers here as well, because they are all good footballers who like the ball on the deck and I think that is the way that George likes it. I’m really looking forward to it because I know that Derby do play some great football from what I’ve seen and that will suit me down to the ground.
FM: What sort of target are you setting yourself for the season?
TS: Obviously to score as many goals as I can and create some as well. It would be great to get into double figures and see what happens from there. As I say though, I don’t want to come here and assume that I am going to start in the first team straight away.
FM: You seem to guarantee semi final places for every first division team that you have played for.
TS: Apparently so in the last two seasons anyway. It’s great to get a good cup run but I think that the league is the most important thing this season and fans want that, as nice as a cup run is, and we will be striving to get as high up as we can.
FM: Presumably you could not have signed at a better time than just before players return for pre-season training?
TS: I missed out on that last season as I was between clubs. I missed out on all the pre-season friendlies and if you miss that it takes it s toll and it takes you time to get your match fitness and your eye in. So hopefully this season I will do it all injury free, hopefully, and start firing straight away as soon as the season starts