CARL Smith hopes to get the chance to continue his rise to prominence at Luton Town tomorrow with a new contract at Turf Moor as his long-term goal.

The 18-year-old midfielder has rocketted to prominence this season with a combination of injuries and pre-season departures handing him an earlier than expected opportunity at first-team level.

Smith, who made his Football League debut as a substitute at Chesterfield last September, was behind Mark Ford, Paul Weller, Mark Robertson, Damian Matthew, Chris Waddle and Michael Williams as he learned his trade in the reserves.

But with Matthew and Waddle leaving, Ford, Robertson and Weller injured or in dispute and Williams falling out of favour at various times then Smith was promoted.

Following a pre-season run-out at Rochdale, the former trainee has figured in all but one of the Clarets' games to date, starting four of them.

"There's only Bury at home in the Worthington Cup that I haven't been involved in so it's been a good season so far, for me anyway," he admitted.

"I know there are going to be times when I am not involved.

"Being young I am going to be in and out of the team all the time so I have just got to take my chance when it comes."

He has done that with both hands and gave his best performance yet when helping Burnley beat Millwall 2-1 at Turf Moor on Tuesday night.

Ironically though that may not prevent him dropping down to the substitutes' bench at Kenilworth Road if Ronnie Jepson returns alongside Mark Robertson, although he could well have role to play at some stage.

"I am just hoping to play again," said Smith who is the archetypal busy midfielder, quick in the tackle and tidy on the ball. In an ideal world, manager Stan Ternent would doubtless prefer some extra experience in his midfield on a consistent basis.

But he knows Smith can make the step up which should stand the Sheffield-born youngster in good stead in his effort to win a second professional contract at Turf Moor.

"I signed a two-year contract which runs out at the end of the season so hopefully I will keep playing like this and hopefully I will get a new contract.

"It's an important year for me," he admitted.

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