Saints kid Clive will fight for a chance
ST JOHNSTONE kid Clive Smith reckons the scrap between Danny Swanson and Richard Foster has given him the chance to prove he can roll with the punches in the Premiership.
The 19-year-old defender had been waiting months for his first-team chance after heading north from Preston.
But he has grabbed the chance to shine after Swanson and Foster saw red for fighting with each other in the 1-0 defeat at Hamilton.
Smith impressed in wins over Hearts and Inverness with Foster suspended – being listed in the SPFL Team of the Week – and he’s hoping to get the nod to face Aberdeen on Saturday.
He said: “I got my chance because of the circumstances at Hamilton and managed to keep my place for the last two as well.
“I’ve not had that much time to think about it. All I’ve done is look at the next game and get myself ready.
“I’m grateful to the manager for giving me the chance but you can’t take anything for granted. He might decide to make changes so you just have to deal with whatever happens.
“For me it’s 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.
“I have been thrown in at the deep end a bit but that’s the best way to learn.”
Smith was on the bench when Foster and Swanson traded blows but he’d seen it all before in England.
He said: “It happens sometimes, 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 fourth place.
“Everyone is desperate to get into Europe – that’s the huge motivation. I’m sure if you ask anyone they would rather have the attitude we have in the dressing room rather than people who don’t care as much.”
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