KC Stadium defeat takes the gloss of Smith’s Terriers debut

Huddersfield Town prospect Tommy Smith admits to mixed feelings after making his Terriers debut in the defeat to Hull on Tuesday night.

Smith, 21, was handed a full debut along with former Dulwich Hamlet striker Daniel Carr and first-year pro Duane Holmes, all of whom earned praise from Town boss Mark Robins.

But ex-Manchester City academy player Smith said: “It’s obviously great for us young lads to get a taste of first-team action. But it means nothing, really. The end result was that we lost, which was disappointing.

“(Yes), it’s a great moment for myself and my family. But we’ve been beaten and it puts a big dampener on my own accolade. We just seemed to lack a bit of belief in the game.”

On being given his debut, Smith added: “I owe the manager a lot and he showed faith in me to put me in for a big game at Hull along with the others as well.

“I have been on the bench a couple of times and around the match squad. When the manager said I would be playing, I was obviously delighted, although not shocked as such.”