Smith hasn't played since 26th Feb. Misses the Orient game & must be in doubt for the AWs. N Boxall I guess the logical replacement. Smith's actually only played 10 games all season for Colchester.
Smith hasn't played since 26th Feb. Misses the Orient game & must be in doubt for the AWs. N Boxall I guess the logical replacement. Smith's actually only played 10 games all season for Colchester.
If he's still injured then you have to question why he was called up and whether flying someone 40 hours return for a couple friendlies is a necessary move. If he was just about there with his comeback you'd think he'd be at least on the bench. Throwing him straight in against China for his first match in a month seems a bit tough.
If he's not injured then you have to question why he isn't involved in a team a spot or two above relegation to the fifth tier, and if a guy who'll be turning 36 come the next World Cup is really needed in a new cycle - at least this far out.
Though to be fair Nikko Boxall isn't flush with minutes either. The 90 he played for Auckland City against Al Ahly is his only non-stoppage-time-sub appearance since July 10th. He has only been subbed on in second half stoppage time three times and been unused/not on the bench in 19 of his teams' (SD Loyal, AC, WP) last 23 competitive matches. He'll also be 34 come 2026.
From Flying Kiwis. Likely a bit short of match fitness for the AWs
CUFC manager Ben Garner: “We’ll see how that reacts in the morning and whether or not Saturday comes too soon [for Tommy Smith]. I’m obviously aware that he’s due to go away with New Zealand on Saturday as well, so we’ll make a call on that tomorrow and see how he is after what he did on Thursday.
He had a knock prior to me coming in and then, when Ross was in interim charge, he joined in for a day and tried to get back and still wasn’t right. He’s now had the recovery from what he had and did a full session today and looked fine, so fingers crossed that he’ll be back, if not for Saturday then at least for international duty and then he’ll be in good shape for us when he comes back.”
That’s good news ahead of the All Whites fixtures. Smithy’s in line to earn his 50th international cap if he makes an appearance against China but that was in plenty of doubt given he hasn’t played a game since late February due to injury.
He didn’t play again this past weekend as Colchester drew 2-2 with top-of-the-table Leyton Orient (scoring twice after the 89th minute), breaking a streak of four straight goalless defeats, but based on what his new manager said there prior to the game he’s good to go and there’s no thought of him missing his flight to Auckland. Has done a full training session with no dramas. Injury recovered. Just wasn’t quite ready for that Orient game.
which is interesting given his performance for us against china. it wasn't a terribleperformance, but more than a little sluggish
He is their club captain, but is a bit of a strange one. From Flying Kiwis.
Tommy Smith has only played five minutes off the bench since the last All Whites games. No word on him being injured. That could be the case or they (Colchester) might just be trying out other options with nothing much left to play for.
Grimsby Town and Max Crocombe are a bit higher up the ladder however they never got the post-FA Cup run boost they were hoping for. More like their season has lost focus instead. Crocombe’s played every League Two minute this term and is coming off contract... as are Smith and Tzanev. All three have some decisions to make.
No Smith, but another ex Ipswich team mate in 33 yr old Freddie Sears makes a return after a few weeks out. Sears 30 games (14 starts) for the season with only 2 goals. Down on last season's 14 goals. Wonder if there might be a little clean out at CU at season's end. Especially the aged ex Ipswich lot?
Edit - a 2-0 win for Mansfield Town. Colchester finish 20th, one spot above Wimbledon.
