HUDDERSFIELD Town's Alex Smithies goes into action at Blackburn today keen to kick a “nightmare” 10 months firmly into touch.

The highly-rated keeper, back to fitness after a knee injury which needed two operations, takes part in Town’s latest development match after being on the bench for Saturday’s 1-1 League I stalemate at Tranmere.

Smithies, whose last competitive outing came in the goalless home draw with Swindon in March, has been back in training for three weeks.

He’s come through without problem so far and is keen to get a full 90-minute run-out under his belt in East Lancashire.

That would advance his claims for a return to league duty, but the 21-year-old warned: “It won’t be easy to get back in.

“Ian Bennett has been in great form, and then we have Nick Colgan, Simon Thomas and Lloyd Allinson – all good goalkeepers.

“My main objective at this stage is to get myself to a position where I can challenge the other lads, and I certainly feel far better.

“I had two good weeks on the training ground with (goalkeeping coach) John Vaughan then last week I was back in with all the lads.

“We had an in-house 60-minute match between the first team and the youth team, and I came through that fine.

“It was a great boost to be on the bench at Tranmere and after a nightmare 10 months, I feel as if I’ve turned a corner.”