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Having already locked horns with Mario Balotelli and Neymar, Tommy Smith is not unduly sweating over the prospect of meeting Eidur Gudjohnsen this afternoon.
The New Zealand defender has come across some tough customers on international duty but holds a healthy respect for the Wanderers star, who may well start against Ipswich Town at the Macron Stadium.
Smith, a dual-international who played for England youth before pledging his allegiances to the All Whites, was actually born in nearby Macclesfield.
And the 24-year-old is looking forward to the chance of facing ex-Barcelona and Chelsea star Gudjohnsen who has finally been given international clearance by the FA after sitting out last weekend’s game at Reading.
“I’ve played against some top players already in my career; the Italians at the World Cup and Neymar for Brazil,” he said.
“It will be a great experience playing against Gudjohnsen because he’s obviously had a fantastic career, although he’s coming towards the end of it now. He’ll still have a lot of quality on the ball, though maybe not the pace he once had.
“There’s no two ways about it, he’s been a top player, but we’ve got a couple of top strikers ourselves (Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick) and I’m sure they’ll be worried about what we have.”
Wanderers will have to be on guard against one of the Championship’s in-form strike pairings.
Only Nottingham Forest’s Brit Assombalonga and Michail Antonio have scored more than McGoldrick and Murphy, although the Ipswich pair are more of a traditional front two.
“I don’t think there is a strike partnership who can say they are better at the moment,” enthused Smith. “Based on form and goals I would say they are up there with any partnership in the country at the moment,” Smith added.
Ipswich have continued their form from the second half of last season into the current campaign and currently stand second in the table with just one defeat in their last 16 games.
“Every away game is tough in this league and Saturday will be no different,” said Smith. “But we’re on a great run of form at the moment and we’re not scared of anyone.
“We look at the opposition on a Friday, having trained hard all week, and we will be ready to go at Bolton on Saturday.
“As I said, we’re not scared of anyone and we proved that against an in-form Leeds side. Hopefully we can have a repeat of that against Bolton.”
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The New Zealand defender has come across some tough customers on international duty but holds a healthy respect for the Wanderers star, who may well start against Ipswich Town at the Macron Stadium.
Smith, a dual-international who played for England youth before pledging his allegiances to the All Whites, was actually born in nearby Macclesfield.
And the 24-year-old is looking forward to the chance of facing ex-Barcelona and Chelsea star Gudjohnsen who has finally been given international clearance by the FA after sitting out last weekend’s game at Reading.
“I’ve played against some top players already in my career; the Italians at the World Cup and Neymar for Brazil,” he said.
“It will be a great experience playing against Gudjohnsen because he’s obviously had a fantastic career, although he’s coming towards the end of it now. He’ll still have a lot of quality on the ball, though maybe not the pace he once had.
“There’s no two ways about it, he’s been a top player, but we’ve got a couple of top strikers ourselves (Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick) and I’m sure they’ll be worried about what we have.”
Wanderers will have to be on guard against one of the Championship’s in-form strike pairings.
Only Nottingham Forest’s Brit Assombalonga and Michail Antonio have scored more than McGoldrick and Murphy, although the Ipswich pair are more of a traditional front two.
“I don’t think there is a strike partnership who can say they are better at the moment,” enthused Smith. “Based on form and goals I would say they are up there with any partnership in the country at the moment,” Smith added.
Ipswich have continued their form from the second half of last season into the current campaign and currently stand second in the table with just one defeat in their last 16 games.
“Every away game is tough in this league and Saturday will be no different,” said Smith. “But we’re on a great run of form at the moment and we’re not scared of anyone.
“We look at the opposition on a Friday, having trained hard all week, and we will be ready to go at Bolton on Saturday.
“As I said, we’re not scared of anyone and we proved that against an in-form Leeds side. Hopefully we can have a repeat of that against Bolton.”
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