PAUL Smyth has come back to Accrington Stanley hoping to emulate his achievements with Wycombe Wanderers last season.

Smyth made 16 appearances on loan from QPR in the second half of Stanley's first League One season, following promotion as League Two champions in 2018.

The Reds are the only team promoted that year that have not gone on to make the step up to the Championship. Luton Town completed back to back promotions while on-loan Smyth was part of the Wycombe side that went up via the play-offs last season.

But having re-joined Stanley on loan from QPR for the remainder of the season Smyth sees no reason why Stanley cannot follow a similar path to the Championship.

"Accrington are a good team and everyone knows that now and they're showing it on the pitch. It would be a nice target," said the 23-year-old forward.

"I got promoted with Wycombe and it was brilliant so I've had that feeling, to do it with Accrington would be brilliant.

"You have to have the hope and desire and drive to push yourself to be the best that you can and that's what Accrington are doing this season.

"They still have a lot of games to get through this season. We've got a lot of tough games coming up - the last two games are against Charlton and Portsmouth, home and away, so it will be difficult depending how the season's going at the end they'll be two difficult to games to play so we'll just have to see how the season pans out.

"Who says we can't do that?

"Look at what Wycombe did. Everyone had written them off. Yes, points per game helped them into the play-offs but then once you get into the play-offs you play two teams and that's how it goes.

"If you turn up on the day of the game like we did the results will go your way and we ended up getting promoted.

"It was a brilliant experience. Obviously not as good without fans but to be at Wembley and wake up on the morning of the play-off final and knowing that you're going to Wembley to play in probably one of the biggest games of your career, it was different but it was good."

Irishman Smyth, who joined QPR from Linfield in 2017, has had a nomadic couple of years with loan spells at Accrington, Wycombe and Charlton in the first half of this season, playing for the opposition when Accrington secured an impressive away win at Charlton, live on Sky Sports, earlier this month.

There were opportunities for him to stay closer to London and his family for the second half of this season, but Smyth's heart was set on a return to the Wham Stadium.

"QPR wanted to call me back (from Charlton) and send me out again, I spoke to John Coleman and it was just meant to happen," he said.

"I just wanted to get out and hopefully get the game time I need and that's why I came here.

"I weighed up the pros and cons of all the different things that were happening, how well they're doing in the league and the amount of games they've got left, there's still loads of games to play, so hopefully I can play my part in them and help them to get promoted.

"I spoke to Coley a lot and we had a nice conversation before I came here and I know the staff and some of the players here very well so it would be easier for me to fit in.

"But it wasn't the easy option I chose. I could have gone elsewhere to make it easier for me and my family and where I live, but I wanted to come somewhere I enjoy and I'm going to enjoy playing and I like the staff.

"I've experienced a lot under the coaching staff so hopefully I can do the same again."