Soccer: Sniffer urges Smith to get crafty

Alan Smith must to learn to channel his aggression and become more crafty, claims former Leeds and England striker Allan Clarke.

Smith has been blasted by Leeds boss David O’Leary for the rush of blood which saw him sent off in the dying seconds of the 3-0 Champions League defeat by Valencia.

The 21-year-old striker will miss Leeds’ first three European matches next season, a situation which has brought O’Leary’s wrath down on his shoulders.

Clarke, part of the all-conquering Leeds team of the 1970s, believes experience will help Smith conquer his demons.

He said: "You have seen with players like him over the years that as well as ability they need aggression. Take that away from him and he’s not half the player.

"He just has to learn to channel that aggression and that will only come with experience."

Clarke also believes Smith needs to learn the tricks of the trade so that he can look after himself without getting into trouble with referees - a skill that Clarke himself refined into an art form.

He added: "He’s a very enthusiastic young man but he has to be a bit more crafty, a bit more worldly-wise, but again that will come with experience.

"The kid is only young and he’s still learning and quite rightly he is being talked about as a future England player."

Smith’s two-footed challenge on Valencia substitute Vicente is likely to cost him a £30,000 fine from O’Leary, who described it as "a disgraceful tackle".

Leeds keeper Nigel Martyn expressed concern about Smith’s reaction to the frustration of being beaten.

He said: "I think he has got to learn. He’s disappointed like the rest of us but he has got to learn. He will miss three games next season because of that."