Smith wants six points
By Jamie Bradbury
Thursday, 10 November, 2011
Defender targets two wins from this week's games.
Watch video highlights of Tuesday's training session.
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Adam Smith says he and his England Under-21s team mates are looking for two more wins in the next few days, but insists that it won’t be easy.
The Three Lions sit at the top of their Euro 2013 qualifying group with three wins from three games, but he expects a tough encounter with Iceland in Colchester on Thursday, despite winning in Reykjavik 3-0 last month.
Smith, the Tottenham Hotspur right-back who is currently on loan at League One MK Dons, made his debut for Stuart Pearce’s side in September, but says he’s settling into the group well.
“We’ve had a few days of training and the boys are looking good,” he said. “We’re concentrating on getting three points and looking forward to the game on Thursday.
“Winning the three games so far is a massive positive for us and there’s a bit more belief in the camp now. We want to go on now and make the most of these two games and get two more victories.
“Having beaten Iceland last month it might give us a little edge, but we know they’ll come here and maybe raise their game in front of a big crowd, knowing that they are playing England in England. We know to expect a difficult game.”
He added: “It’s always a massive honour to play for your country and gives you experience to take into your club football as well. When I come here I really enjoy playing with the lads. It’s great to be involved.”
After Thursday’s game Weston Homes Community Stadium, the team travel to Belgium for their next qualifier on Monday night which will draw to a close the fixtures calendar for 2011. Then it’s back to club duty for Smith, who will be looking to follow up his wonder-strike for MK Dons against Rochdale last week when he heads back to Colchester for a League One fixture.
“I’ve watched the goal quite a bit to be honest,” admitted Smith. “I don’t think I’ll score too many of those in my career so I’ll have to save it on a DVD. I don’t even know why I hit it, probably instinct, and it flew into the back of the net. I was chuffed with it.”
The England Under-21s squad in full
Goalkeepers
Ben Amos (Manchester United), Jack Butland (Cheltenham Town - loan from Birmingham City), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough)
Defenders
Nathan Baker (Aston Villa), Joe Bennett (Middlesbrough), Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace), Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool)*, Martin Kelly (Liverpool), Adam Smith (MK Dons - loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders
Ross Barkley (Everton)*, Jacob Butterfield (Barnsley), Tom Carroll (Tottenham Hotspur), Gary Gardner (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers), Josh McEachran (Chelsea), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)
Forwards
Sammy Ameobi (Newcastle United), Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Will Keane (Manchester United), Marvin Sordell (Watford).
* Joined U19s squad, but return for Belgium game.
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