Smith was unable to help his beloved Leeds United avoid relegation from the Premiership. But the 23-year-old remains hopeful of being named in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad for this summer’s big tournament in Portugal.

Smith gives a unique insight into his development as a player and offers his thoughts on Euro 2004.

When you were playing football in the school playground, who did you pretend to be?

When I was a bit older it was Alan Shearer, but before that I was always Roberto Baggio or Alessandro Del Piero. They were two of my favourite players.

I always liked Italian players, probably because Gazza was over there at that time and Italian football was all the rage when I was a kid. I was a Juventus fan as well as a Leeds fan when I was growing up.

Is it fair to say you modelled your game on Alan Shearer?

Yeah, a little bit and Mark Hughes as well. Alan Shearer’s a great goalscorer and Mark Hughes was probably the best player with his back to goal, holding the ball up, that there’s been in the English game.

They’re two players I do base my game on. When I first got into the Leeds first-team, David O’Leary told me to watch those two players, see how they play and try and learn off them. That’s something that I’ve done.

What part of your game did you have to work on most to improve?

Everything, to be honest. I think you’re always improving. Even now, every game I play and every season I play, I get better. You never stop learning and you get more confident. I work on my finishing and my passing every day in training.

What advice would you give to youngsters?

When you’re young, I think it’s important just to enjoy football. I always played with my mates until I was 14 or 15. I was signed at Leeds, but I still played with my local team. I think enjoyment’s vital because there’s a lot of pressure when you do get into a football club at an early age. People expect a lot of you.

What’s the most nerve-racking moment you’ve had in you career?

I’m not really a nervous person, to be honest. I think any nerves about playing are to do with failure. I want to be the best player, so I’m more nervous about failing and letting people down than I am about actually playing in a game.

Who is the toughest opponent you have ever faced?

From a striker’s point of view, there are a few defenders I’ve played against who are outstanding. Valencia’s Roberto AyaIa, who I played against in the semi-finals of the Champions League, is probably one of the best.

Then there’s Tony Adams who I played against when I was 17. It was a good education for me. It’s a massive challenge to play against world-class players like that and you do learn a lot off them.

Who do you rate as the best England player you have ever seen?

When I was younger, Gazza was playing some of the best football that anybody in this country had ever seen. Growing up as a kid, watching World Cup 90 and Euro 96, he was one of those players you wanted to emulate.

What’s the most memorable goal you’ve ever scored?

Scoring on your debut is something you’ll always remember and I managed to do that at Liverpool. I scored on my England debut as well, against Portugal. They’re two goals that will stand out for me and ones I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life.

Can you pick out the most memorable match you’ve seen?

It wasn’t memorable for the right reasons, but I was at the last game at the old Wembley Stadium when England played Germany. I was at that game and it was the first time I’d ever been to Wembley, so it’ll obviously stick in my mind.

It’s been a difficult season for you at club level - how has that affected you?

It’s not affected me at all, to be honest. To some extent, it’s helped me because I’ve had more responsibility and people look to me now in every game to be the best player.

In a team that’s struggling, you obviously need to try and play well every single game and I think I’ve consistently been able to do that.

How do you rate your chances of making England’s Euro 2004 squad?

I think I’ve got a good chance and I’d love to be there. This season I’ve played the best football of my life, especially over the last few months. Hopefully it’s come in time to get chosen for the Championship.

Which teams would you pick out as the ones to beat in Euro 2004?

Obviously France will probably be the favourites. I think the likes of Italy, Holland and the Czech Republic are ones to watch as well, although every team going to the tournament will think they can win it.

Olivier Dacourt is a player you know well from your time together at Leeds and he may well feature for France in England’s opening game…

He probably will do, because he’s been doing really well since he went to Roma. And he’s been playing in the last few games for France, so hopefully I’ll see him over there and get to pit my wits against him in Euro 2004.

How do you rate Dacourt?

He’s an outstanding player and he’s shown that since he’s gone to Roma. He’s playing week-in, week-out and they’re doing well in Serie A.

James Milner is viewed as one of the brightest young players in the country - how far do you think he can go?

All the way because he’s got great talent. He’s got the potential to go as far as he wants. Hopefully he can keep progressing.

I don’t think he’s lacking in anything and it’ll be an important year for him next year to see how he develops again. There will be a bit more added pressure as well, because people have seen what he can do.