Smith back to full fitness after knee op

The 22-year-old winger or striker missed much of last season after a troublesome knee injury.

Having recovered from an end of last season operation, Smith is looking forward to the new season and a start in the game at Chester on Saturday.

He said: "The knee's feeling good and it's good to be back. Suicide watch is now officially over.

"I had the tendon decompressed and my knee feels a lot better now and it's made it so I'll take nothing for granted now. You do sometimes take things for granted when you're injured and I think it's been good to have had the time to learn that you've got a lot when you play football.

"I'm not far off full fitness and I'm feeling all right in myself, so we'll have to wait and see if I get a start at Chester.

"If selected, I'm expecting to play wide but I don't mind where I play. I'd play in goal if it gets me a start, as long as I'm on the pitch. It's a great feeling to be back and hopefully I'll be involved on Saturday."

Smith, who has been at Chesterfield since he was 16, is entering the new season with one year left on his contract for the first time in his career.

He said: "It is a big year for me but when you're playing, you don't think about that, you just think about the job in hand and getting three points."