Professional examination for ace Smith

MAKING THE LEAP... striker Matt Smith (left) jumps for a header against Burnley. New striker bridging non-league gap

MATT Smith is confident he can make the grade with Athletic.

The 6ft 6in striker has shone in pre-season, raising his level with every passing game and looking every inch the sort of target man who can be so effective at npower League One level.

Coming into the club with a non-league background, the 21-year-old has been working hard to build up fitness and match sharpness under the guidance of manager Paul Dickov over the past five weeks.

And the former Solihull Moors, Redditch United and Droylsden forward — who graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in international business management a month ago — showed with his headed goal in the 2-1 friendly win over Championship outfit Blackpool that he knows how to find the net, just like other major players schooled outside the Football League.

"You see the likes of Craig Mackail-Smith and Charlie Austin as the most prominent ones, but there are so many players these days that come into the professional game from non-league," said Smith, who was chased by a number of other clubs during the summer after scoring 23 times in 27 appearances in Blue Square Bet North last time out.

"I think some people are blind to the non-league game and think it is not competitive and no good.

"But you see lots of non-league teams having great FA Cup runs, knocking out league sides.

"It isn't that I have come from a 'nothing' background. You see a lot of youngsters who have had no first-team experience, whereas I have had that and I think that is crucial when there is such a gap between reserve and first-team football.

"I am just happy I have got that under my belt. The first-team football I have had in non-league has toughened me up and I am grateful for it."

Training full-time has been something of a culture shock for Smith, but he has started to see the benefits.

It is also abundantly clear that, after combining playing with studying, he believes strongly in the value of hard graft.

"I put in a lot of hard work last year with my university work and my football as I was travelling here, there and everywhere to get to games and training," he added, admitting with a smile that there has been some university-related banter flying around the dressing room in recent weeks at his expense.

"It meant spending extra hours at night in the library catching up. So I am chuffed to bits that it has fallen into place for me.

"I have to say I have been enjoying it thoroughly and I can see definite improvements day-by-day.

"The set-up here is fantastic and the manager (Paul Dickov) has spurred me on every single day, giving me advice and taking me aside in training to do extra bits in order to make me a better player.

"I am enjoying it and am looking forward to the start of the season, which has come round a lot more quickly than I expected."

Smith joins ex-Sheffield Wednesday defender Richard Hinds, Huddersfield Town striker Robbie Simpson, Gillingham defender Matt Lawrence and Hull City midfielder Seyi Olofinjana as current footballers with degrees to their name.