United Bach Johann To Bolster Strikeforce

Johann Smith

Smith makes the move up the M6 today with Blues boss Neil McDonald, who used to be first-team coach at Bolton, hoping that the striker will be given Football League approval to play in United's home match against Nottingham Forest tonight. The Connecticut-born speedster, who once ran the 100 metres in 10.5 seconds as an all-State athlete, has been included in Bolton's first-team on six occasions, and has played as a used substitute three times. His one Premiership outing came in late October 2006 when he was a part of a Trotters team that was thumped 4-0 at home to Manchester United.

Smith, who was brought up in Hartford, played his local football for Oakwood before becoming involved with the Connecticut Olympic Development Program squad at the age of 14. Johann was then recommended to Bolton by fellow ODP team-mate Luke Magill, who was a junior at the Reebok Stadium at the time, Smith coming over to England for a two-week trial in late 2004. Work permit problems stopped the striker from signing for the Trotters straight away with Johann eventually signing a two-year contract at the Reebok Stadium in 2005.

The pacy frontman has been a regular in Bolton's reserve side in the last two seasons and was also tied as top scorer when he was eligible to play in the United States under-18 Squad. Moving on into the under-20s Smith has made five appearances for coach Thomas Rongen's squad, scoring one goal in the process last October in a 5-1 win over the Haiti All-Stars in a match played in Sunrise, Florida. Smith's next chance of international honours coming when he hopes to be selected for the under-20 World Cup in Canada in July 2007.

More pressing duties for the 20-year old though will be trying to fire some life back into United's flagging forward-line. With Derek Holmes, Kevin Gall, Joe Garner and, hopefully after the January transfer window closes tonight, Karl Hawley, also looking for a spot upfront there is now healthy competition for places at the top end of the team. Smith is at Brunton Park until the end of the season and hopefully the Connecticutian can bag some goals for the Blues before he returns to the Reebok Stadium in May.


A Johann Smith interview can be read : here


First Team Transfers 2006-07 : Click here