Eastbourne Borough, Assistant Manager Nick Greenwood insists Dan Smith still has a future with the Blue Square Premier Club.
Smith became the Club’s first ever full-time professional when he was signed from Plymouth Argyle in the summer after an impressive loan spell last season.
However, the 20 year old winger has made two starts this season and was completely omitted from the ‘Boro squad at Oxford United on Saturday.
Greenwood said:
“It is just a question of Dan making the adjustment. At Plymouth he was full-time and had sessions laid on for him every day so it is bound to take him a while to adjust.
“We obviously don’t put training sessions on for just one player so he goes to the gym and looks after himself. It is a big difference and it requires self discipline and motivation when you are doing it all on your own. He is a long way away from home and is trying to come to terms with a completely new routine so it is no surprise it is taking him a while to settle in.
“We had the same situation with Yemi Odubade when he came here from Yeovil. Suddenly he wasn’t training every day and it does affect your levels of fitness and performance. Dan is still a good player who is an important part of our squad but the key for him is that when he gets the opportunity to get on the pitch he has got to show what he can do.”
Smith made a huge impact during a three-month loan spell from Plymouth last season as he and Argyle club-mate Ashley Barnes helped turn Boro’s fortunes around. But he has only started two games this year – against Salisbury City and AFC Wimbledon.
