Smith: I will tackle with no fear

Smith will make his return to the United starting line-up against Crewe in the Carling Cup third-round tonight. The former Leeds striker broke his ankle against Liverpool eight months ago.

He said: “There’s no mental problem for me to overcome because the way I suffered the injury was so innocuous.

“It was not in a tackle so when I go in for a challenge, I’m not thinking about my leg.”

He added: “The more silverware we win, the better it is for everyone.

“We won the Carling Cup last season and want to make sure we do it again, so we’ll be taking the game seriously.

“There are players who are fighting for first-team places and those, like myself who are coming back from injury, so it is a vital game for us.”