The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
On-loan defender ‘loving every minute’ at St Johnstone
ST JOHNSTONE: Defender ‘loving every minute’ of time at McDiarmid
Coming off the bench after two of his team-mates were sent off for fighting with each other might not have been the ideal way for Clive Smith to make his St Johnstone debut.
But the young defender took that peculiar introduction to Scottish Premiership football in his stride, as he did the two starts which have followed.
And the on-loan Preston North End full-back has “loved every minute of it”.
“What happened happens sometimes,” said Smith of the Richard Foster and Danny Swanson bust-up at Hamilton. “Football is an emotional game.
“It happened when I was at Preston as well. People are desperate to win football matches.
“I’ve not been here long but I can tell how much it means to the boys to win games and get into fourth place.
“Everyone is desperate to get into Europe. That’s the huge motivation.
“I’m sure if you ask anyone, they’d rather have the attitude we have in the dressing-room rather than people who don’t care as much.
“I think it’s a positive thing, the lads have been brilliant – there is a winning mentality here.”
If you were going to pick a team for a youngster to be drafted into unexpectedly, it would be St Johnstone’s. And Smith admitted that his McDiarmid Park team-mates have helped guide him through his Premiership baptism.
He said: “For me, it has been intense because we have had three big games in a week but you have to deal with it.
“We have had to win at all costs. We want to get that fourth place and finish above Hearts.
“Football is an intense game. That’s a huge part of the fun.
“I have been thrown in at the deep end a bit but that’s the best way to learn.
“I have good experienced pros round about me and they have been a massive help. Joe Shaughnessy has been brilliant to play alongside and Blair Alston has been really good with me as well.
“He has some engine on him and gets up and down the park so he’s been helping me out as much as he can.
“I’ve loved every minute of it. It has been great.”
Smith added: “Football is a ruthless game. I just came here hoping to do my best and see where it took me.
“I got my chance in the Hamilton game because of the circumstances and managed to keep my place for the last two as well.
“I’ve not really had that much time to think about it. All I’ve done is look at the next game and get myself ready for that.
“I’m grateful to the manager for giving me the chance but you can’t take anything for granted and I’ll just have to see if I play this weekend (against Aberdeen) too.
“He might decide to make changes so you just have to deal with whatever happens.”
Smith doesn’t know what his next career move will be, whether it’s returning to his parent club, signing for Saints or moving elsewhere.
“My contract is up at the end of this season so we’ll have to see what happens,” he said.
“I have loved it here and would definitely want to stay if the manager wants me. But for that to happen I’ll have to keep doing well.
“The move came about quickly (in January) and I did a bit of homework on the club.
“I spoke to Stevie May who told me I should come here.
“He said he did well here, it’s a great club and the lads will be good to me. So he really sold me on coming here, it was good to hear what he had to say about the place.
“Who knows what the future will bring. Even if it doesn’t happen here I’m still young and the sky’s the limit.
“I have time on my side but you have to work hard to make things happen.”
Smith described his first three games as “intense” and, if selected at the weekend, the Dons match will continue that trend.
“I’ve heard there has been a good rivalry with Aberdeen over the last few years,” he said.
“A couple of the lads told me about the cup game up there earlier in the season.
“But that’s football, having a rivalry is what it’s all about and that’s what makes games exciting.”