Hard Kore-y!

NEW BOY . . . On-loan Athletic midfielder Korey Smith glides past Hartlepool’s Luke James.

Latics’ midfield rock packs plenty of League One punch
IT’S early days, but Korey Smith has already got his feet under the table at Athletic.

Norwich's loaned midfield man overcame freezing conditions to put in an assured debut in the comfortable victory over Hartlepool on Tuesday night.

It was the 22 year old’s first senior game since a loan to Yeovil before Christmas.

Out of contract at the end of the season at Carrow Road, Smith was so quietly impressive at Boundary Park that some are already speculating his one-month emergency loan could become permanent.

For now the Hatfield-born star, who made his Canaries bow four years ago, is simply happy to be playing again.

"I've only been here a few days so I can't make that decision now," said Smith when asked about his future out of contract.

"But I have really enjoyed my time so far. The lads have been great and I have been very well looked after. I'd definitely consider it."

Despite his youth, Smith has already experienced relegation from the Championship with Norwich and the high of promotion as champions the following season (2009-10). In that title-winning season he made 40 teenage appearances in midfield.

The task on his latest stint away from Carrow Road is to help Athletic to avoid the drop – having been brought in on Lee Johnson's advice before the new manager had even been named.

"The gaffer told me he saw me play a few times at Yeovil," Smith said. "He obviously liked what he saw. I had a good time there and did well so, hopefully, I can bring that here.”