Smith hopes for more chances at Bournemouth next season

Brad Smith is hoping for more opportunities at Bournemouth in the new season after a tricky first year at the club.

The left back moved from Liverpool to the south coast last summer for £6m but made just five appearances for the Cherries.

Charlie Daniels was preferred in the main by boss Eddie Howe but that hasn’t stopped Smith being selected for his national team.

The 23-year-old is currently with the Australia squad as he tries to help them earn qualification for the World Cup.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

And he expects that, having a full season at the club now under his belt, he will be in a much stronger position to push for a first team start come August.

“It was quite a difficult season for me personally,” Smith said.

“It’s obviously tough to go into a new team and a team that’s been together for five years and come up the ranks with the manager.

“It was difficult for me to get a good run of games in. I think I’ve learnt a lot. With the manager I’ve grown a lot.

“Going into pre-season after these games and the tournament, I’ll go in fit and hopefully get a good chance at the start of the season.”