Weapons back
Smith and Kyle locked and loaded
GOLD Coast City’s strike power has been restored with the return from injury of big Sam Smith to partner Jarrod Kyle in attack.
Smith missed City’s lastround 5-1 thumping of Far North Queensland Heat at Mallawa Drive through suspension after he had accumulated five yellow cards.
But he is now back for a key NPL Queensland match against Brisbane City at Spencer Park tonight.
According to official records, Smith has nine goals for the season but the big striker says he has actually hit 10 – official paperwork did not credit him for a goal against Brisbane Strikers and instead attributed it to Kyle.
Which means, since joining City from England, Smith has failed to score only once in 11 matches.
So what is the secret behind his consistency?
“Maybe the fact that I know I’m going to get a chance to score every game,” Smith said.
“It may be in the first minute or it may be in the 89th minute.
“Even if I get to 80 minutes I know I can score and even a minute from time I still think I have a chance.”
City coach Grae Piddick knows he has a potent strike force in Smith and Kyle who have scored 16 of the side’s 30 goals this year.
Piddick does not believe it is unhealthy to have two players scoring more than half the team goals. Rather, he says, it is an advantage.
“It’s good,” he said. “We have had about 10 different scorers this year so that means everyone’s chipping in.
“The more players scoring goals the more threats you have.”
For the trek to Spencer Park in Brisbane, City will regain Smith as well as defender Jaiden Walker, who has recovered from a leg injury.
Smith will slot straight back into the starting line-up although Piddick is unsure about Walker.
“We have a bit of sickness in the camp so we’ll wait until the last minute,” Piddick said.