Bristol City's Korey Smith has had a nightmare time so far over the past 14 months when it comes to spending time on the sidelines, with just six games under his belt since the start of the 2018-2019 campaign.

The central midfielder has experience at Championship level and Lee Johnson is a big fan of what the 28-year-old can bring to the side, and now the former Oldham Athletic captain is on the comeback trail as he was finally able to get his boots on and get out on the pitch yesterday.

Smith participated heavily in an under-23s game against Cardiff City, which ended 2-2, and the midfielder took the captain's armband as he helped to lead the younger players around him with some excellent communication skills.

The midfielder seemed composed on the ball and looked to be enjoying his football as he sprayed it around with purpose, making sure that the players around him could be brought into play and Smith never appeared nervous to get on the ball no matter the situation he was in.

Johnson would have been wanting to know just how the midfielder can get on, and he would have been pleased to see that his trusty midfielder got through the game unscathed.

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Smith now has the opportunity over the international break to now get back out on the training pitch, work up his natural fitness and make sure that he will be available for first-team selection sooner rather than later.

Of course, the 28-year-old has been an important player for Lee Johnson over the past few years, and his experience on the pitch could help the likes of Han-Noah Massengo and Adam Nagy when he's able to enter the fray at first-team level again.

His composure on the ball and tenacity in the midfield will provide the Robins with a player who can be trusted in every game, as Smith can play the box-to-box role well.

As well as being a big influence on the pitch, Smith will also be a big influence within the dressing room as he tries to integrate himself back into the dressing room.

His leadership and cool head within the four walls of the Robins' dressing room will provide Johnson with another leader who won't be afraid to speak his mind before or after games.

City will perhaps have not realised just how much they've been missing Smith while he's been out injured, but now the midfielder is back and he's closer than ever to getting back out on the pitch and showing everyone just what he's capable of doing again.