Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Former Arab attacker heading off to chase American dream
FORMER Dundee United star Cammy Smith has embarked on his American dream – after picking the brains of former Celtic winger Lewis Morgan.
Smith has secured his early release from Ayr United after being offered a two-year deal in the USL Championship, the league below the MLS.
The former Tangerines, Aberdeen and St Mirren midfielder insists he would have regretted turning down the opportunity to move Stateside had he stayed on in Scotland.
The 25-year-old flew out to Poland yesterday to secure the necessary visa and paperwork and will have to quarantine there before continuing his journey over the Atlantic.
He admits he is desperate to make the move a success after hearing from former St Mirren team-mate Morgan, who was recently voted Inter Miami’s most valuable player after the MLS club’s debut season.
Smith said: “I had one or two sniffs from out there last year and this year when it came up I thought ‘Why not? If I’m going to do it, I might as well do it now’.
“It’s only myself and my girlfriend, we don’t have a family, so it’s the best time to do it and I thought I’ll give it a go. I didn’t want to look back and have regrets at not going for it.
“The MLS is obviously huge. I’m going to the league below that, but the opportunity is still there to make a name for yourself.
“I’m only 25, so I want to make the most of it. I’m not going over for a holiday or anything like that, I want to go there and kick on again.
“I keep in touch with Lewis after our time at St Mirren. He’s down in Miami, which is a different kettle of fish and a different standard in the MLS.
“But he loves it, he’s settled in really well, and he only had positive things to say. He’s been a good help.
“There’s one or two other guys I’ve messaged who I know who have played out there, like Sam Stanton, and everybody’s had good things to say about it.”