How clear outline of recovery worked for 'Smudge'

Just over a year ago, Alan Smith broke his leg but now the striker is leading a treble charge. He talked to Phil Shaw

Tuesday, 17 April 2007

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Alan Smith is the definitive no-frills footballer. See all his tricks and you've seen one of them. While he has regained his sharpness as a striker, he is as blunt as ever when he speaks. Pressed to articulate the difference in his life from 12 months ago, the answer is instantaneous. "This time last year," he says, "I had one leg."

At Old Trafford tonight, Smith is in line to start his third game in a week. Having scored in the first, the 7-1 romp against Roma in the Champions League quarter-final, he was outstanding in the 4-1 defeat of Watford in the FA Cup semi-final.

Now it falls to Sheffield United to try to prevent United reopening a six-point lead over Chelsea at the Premiership summit.

For the 26-year-old Yorkshireman, the pursuit of the treble is a distant cry from the day in February last year when a challenge on Liverpool's John Arne Riise led, in Smith's words, to "me left leg pointing one way and me ankle pointing towards Hong Kong". It also vindicates his decision to spurn numerous Premiership and Championship suitors on loan during the January transfer window.

"I look back to this time last year," the former Leeds United player says with a chuckle that suggests he cannot quite credit the transformation. "Getting over my injury and playing again was a totally different thing for me, mentally and physically. That's why I didn't go out on loan. I'd have no chance of playing in games like Roma and Watford if I had."

Everton, Aston Villa and Leeds were reputedly among the clubs who coveted Smith. The manager of tonight's visitors, Neil Warnock, is an open admirer of his snarling combativeness. How close was he to moving?

"Nowhere near. The gaffer called me in and said a list of clubs wanted me. I said, 'I'm not going. It's as simple as that'."

Ferguson did not get as far as naming the interested parties. "I wasn't going, so there was no need. Sometimes in football you have to make brave decisions. I knew that training day in, day out with the best players might not compare with playing in matches, but it was the closest I'd get to knowing how fit I was going to be when I could play.

"Staying, and working hard in training every day, keeps you in the manager's mind. He's never going to turn to you if you're on loan somewhere."

Ferguson's belief in the player he bought for £6m in 2004 did not waver, despite the England striker's admission that he was "a long way short" in Carling Cup ties at Crewe and Southend. "To put me in against Roma, and have faith in me to do well in a massive game, was everything I'd hoped for. He'd seen the work I'd put in."

A winner's medal in one or both of the cup competitions would be "nice", yet simply being in meaningful action again for "the biggest club in the world" is a triumph in itself for Smith. "In difficult times it's easy to run away from your problems and I didn't want to do that. It was the biggest challenge of my career and I wanted to do as much as I could to make sure I was staying here."

Not just as a bit-part player, either. "I've always been confident in myself. I felt that when I did get fit, I could have an effect on the team and help the lads, although I don't want any credit for what they've achieved so far this season."

The United manager, and the colleagues who know him as "Smudge", would not accept Smith's caveat. His freshness has been a fillip to a squad fighting against a spate of injuries. "I'm still a bit short, but I feel good," he says of his physical condition. "It has only been two games so I'm not getting carried away."

Both, pleasingly for Smith, have been as an attacking spearhead rather than in the midfield role he often filled before his injury. "I love playing up front. You're always involved. You're pivotal," he says. "And I'm playing football with a smile on my face, which is sometimes difficult for me."

A long road back: How Smith kept his focus as he returned from injury

* INJURY

Smith suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle on 18 February 2006 in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Liverpool. He was out for just over seven months and made his return as an 85th-minute substitute against Benfica away (United won 1-0). His first start after the injury came against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-final replay on 19 March 2007.

* LOAN INTEREST

On 10 November 2006, Smith's former club Leeds United announced they were interested in taking the striker back on loan. There was also speculation about a spell at Newcastle United or Aston Villa. The Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, said that a short-term deal could do wonders for the player. But Smith himself was not interested.

* THE NUMBERS

2005-2006
Premiership 21 app (6 as sub), 1 goal (against Charlton)
FA Cup 1 app (0), 0 gl
League Cup 2 app (0), 0 gl
Champions League 8 app (0), 0 gl

2006-2007
Premiership 3 app (3), 0 gl
FA Cup 3 app (0), 0 gl
League Cup 2 app (0), 0 gl
Champions League 4 app (3), 1 gl (v Roma, 10 April)