Defender desperate to have another crack at Premiership

this league was like – that drove me on to do it again this year.

“Unfortunately, coronavirus put paid to the celebrations and parties this time around.

“My mum and dad have my medal from St Mirren in a frame but I hope to put my United one up on the wall when I get it.”

Smith is eager to get another crack at the Premiership after a permanent move to St Mirren never materialised as boss Ross headed for Sunderland.

Instead, Smith joined Ayr United before switching to Tannadice in the summer to help guide them to the top-flight.

He continued: “I had hoped to get the chance to go into the Premiership with them but Jack left for Sunderland and that killed that.

“There is a good chance I would have remained at St Mirren if Jack had stayed but he got his big move.

“I ended up going on to Ayr and we had a good season.

“They had come up to the Championship and surprised a few people but when I first signed and Ian McCall spoke to me I was confident we would do well because of the quality we had.

“They have a lot of good players and it was enjoyable.

“It also put me in the window and got me my move to Dundee United.”

Next term won’t be Smith’s first taste of the top table, however, having spent two seasons there in and around the first-team at Hearts with Robbie Neilson as his manager.

He didn’t play as much as he would have hoped but now is aiming to establish himself in Robbie’s Tangerines’ team the big league.

“I played a few games when I came up through the youth system at Hearts,” he commented.

“I broke in but I would never have classed myself as a fully-fledged first-team player.

“I was in and out, hence the different loans I had.

“I got a good taste of things under Robbie and then came away and spent a few seasons in the Championship but I am desperate to get another crack at the Premiership.”