Andy Smith wants to follow Jacob Greaves into the Hull City first team

Young defender Andy Smith, currently on loan at Grimsby Town, is hoping to follow Jacob Greaves’ path by gaining a Hull City first team spot via lower league experience. The 20-year-old got his first team debut for Hull City last year but went out on loan to Salford City in League Two. In January this year he was recalled and sent out to Grimsby Town in the National League.

Now he has forced his way into the team at Grimsby as a centre-back, with back to back clean sheets. The results have left the club eighth in the table and vying for the play-offs.

Asked how he was benefiting from playing in the lower leagues, Smith said: “The ruthlessness of it. This is proper football. It’s not under-23s football where the results don’t really matter. It’s how you play.

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"It’s proper football and it’s a challenge that I’m really enjoying. Hopefully long may it continue.”

Smith was then asked about Hull City, and his possible future there, with Jacob Greaves mentioned as a possible inspiration for getting into the first team. Smith said: “Yeah, definitely.' You can see the pathway’s there, if you’ve seen Jacob do it, especially being in my position as well. But it’s a credit to Jacob.

“He put in the hard work and played some really good games in League Two with Cheltenham and was excellent last season getting Hull promoted. So I can see a pathway there, but it’s just about putting in the performances.”

Asked about his contact with Hull City, now that a new owner and manager are in place, Smith said: “Not so much direct to the manager, but I still keep in contact with staff from Hull just checking how I’m getting on and asking how the games are and stuff. So yeah, I still am in