JONNY’S OFF TO A FLYER AT BURTON
Winger eyes survival
AFTER hitting the ground running with a debut win- ner against high-flying Hull last weekend, Burton Albion winger Jonny Smith is now determined to establish his and the team’s future in the third tier.
The 23-year-old signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Brewers in late January, having spent the first half of the current season at fellow League One strugglers Swindon where he scored twice in 20 appearances in all competitions.
A five-month spell at the County Ground marked the fifth loan move of a four-and-a-half year stay at Championship side Bristol City, where he failed to make a single senior appearance.
But having notched nine league goals at Oldham last season, Smith re-captured that form in his first aphis pearance in yellow, striking at the death after coming off the bench to help beat promotion-hunting Hull 1-0 and boosting bottom club Burton’s survival prospects in the process.
“It was the perfect start and an amazing feeling,” Smith said. “The table doesn’t lie and we know how good Hull are, so it showed what we’re capable of as a team. It’s moved us three points closer to safety and given us something to build on.
“It was something I needed personally for my own confidence, too. After so many loans I was eager to settle down with a team that I can call my own, and hopefully that goal was the start of me being able to do that. “City were fair in telling me that I wasn’t part of their plans but their willingness to let me go and get experience has helped me make over 100 professional appearances and become the player I am today. I’d been out at National League and League Two level, so this year it was about stepping up to League One. I had a taste of it at Swindon, so when the opportunity came up at Burton I grabbed it with both hands.” A move to Staffordshire saw Smith become reacquainted with assistant manager Dino Maamria, left0, who had been in charge of Oldham during the pair’s time at Boundary Park last season.
Smith was also enticed by the prospect of working with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was re-appointed as Burton manager on New Year’s Day, five years after leaving the club for QPR.
Excited
“I loved working with Dino last year. I probably had the best season of my career so far under him, so I was really excited about working with him again,” said Smith, who came through the youth ranks at Wrexham.
“The stature of the gaffer was a big pull as well, particularly being a forward player. Everyone knows his name, and as a squad we’ve all enjoyed working hard on how he wants us to set up and play.”
Hasselbaink has certainly made his mark in short time back in the Pirelli Stadium hotseat, with Smith one of ten fresh signings to have linked up with the Dutchman since the turn of 2021.
And with two wins in three league games ahead of this weekend’s action, Smith is confident he and his new teammates have the quality to fire Burton out of danger.
He added: “It’s been quite hectic because there are so many new players, but the guys who were already here have been incredibly welcoming.
“Everyone’s keen to work hard and get the club out of trouble sooner rather than later.
“Every game is a cup final now, and I’m more than ready to play my part. If we all produce our best form I believe we can start moving in the right direction pretty quickly - and secure our status in League One.”