Cherries: Smith putting talk of future on hold

DEAN Court loan star Adam Smith is keen to put talk of his future on the backburner as he focuses his full attention on Cherries' League One run-in. The Tottenham defender was signed by former boss Eddie Howe in September and has been instrumental in helping Cherries keep up their promotion push. Smith earned Lee Bradbury's men a potentially-priceless point when he bagged his maiden career goal during their 3-3 draw at Peterborough on Friday. The 19-year-old, who has missed just one league game since arriving on a youth loan, popped up to score a dramatic equaliser deep into injury time. Smith has grown in stature since arriving at Dean Court, his form for Cherries seeing him linked with several suitors, including Howe's new club Burnley. But although his contract at White Hart Lane is up for renewal in the summer, Smith says he is in no rush to make a decision on his future. Cherries have already registered their interest by holding preliminary talks with Smith regarding the possibility of him signing a permanent deal. Smith told the Daily Echo: I have told the club I am keeping my options open. I just want to see what happens at the end of the season. Coming here is definitely an option though. I love it here and it is a great club. I love the place, the supporters and the lads. The club took me on loan and it has helped me develop. I have been here for most of the season and everybody has made me feel very welcome. Everybody wants the best for himself and I am an ambitious person. I just want to keep playing well for Bournemouth and, hopefully, we will get promotion. Smith, who has also been linked with Championship clubs Reading and Ipswich, believes Cherries could still claim the second automatic promotion berth. He added: Nobody knows what to expect in life or football. Not many people would have expected me to score the equaliser against Peterborough. It was a valuable point and now we have got to see how it goes in the remaining games. I don't think anybody should write us off. If we keep showing the same spirit and determination then who knows what might happen. We have got an easier run-in than most of the other teams but that doesn't mean anything. A lot of our remaining games are against the teams which are fighting for their lives so they are going to be very difficult opponents. Unfortunately Smith's fears were underlined by Cherries' 1-0 defeat against League One strugglers Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.

Source: Bournemouth_Echo