Smith - who is currently enjoying the third loan spell of his career - has notched up more than 40 career appearances, despite only making his professional debut last season.
IT CAN CHANGE SO QUICKLY IN THIS DIVISION, THAT’S WHY A WINNING MENTALITY IS IMPORTANT. ONCE YOU HAVE THAT JUST A FEW WINS ON THE BOUNCE CAN CHANGE THINGS QUITE A LOT
The Harlow-born midfielder joined Doncaster in the summer, eager for more first-team football as he looks to make a name for himself at the top. "Last season was really good for me," he says, reflecting on the 2020/21 campaign. "I do feel like I did well to say it was my first one, but I just want to push on and do well this season now I’ve got the experience under my belt." The 20-year-old’s professional debut came during his first loan spell with Swindon Town. In fact, it was current Rovers manager Richie Wellens who signed the midfielder and gave him his debut, a game in which Smith also scored his first professional goal and hasn't forgotten in a hurry. "It was a big day for me, I remember it well," he adds. "I remember us winning 3-0, I scored in the game as well and that’s not something you forget, to score on your professional debut is amazing, it was amazing for me." Although things started well for Smith at Swindon on an individual basis, they struggled as a team at the bottom of the table and, following the departure of Wellens to League Two side Salford City, the Arsenal loanee began to fall out of favour with new manager John Sheridan. "Overall last season was a really good experience for me. "It was my first season playing professional first-team football and it was a very different experience playing in League One. League football comes with lots of highs and lows "I had to deal with managerial changes, relegation battles, winning games, losing games as well as being in and out of the team.
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