Many said Tommy Smith was mad to leave Manchester City two years ago – but the Town defender has never regretted his decision.

The young centre-back has made a impressive transition into Championship football after being called up in the wake of Peter Clarke’s knee injury.

And he says the unfortunate Town skipper has been key to his progress since linking up with his former City coach Steve Eyre at the John Smith’s Stadium club.

“Pete has been fantastic with me,” said the 21-year-old, who is in line for a fourth successive league outing as Town chase a fourth straight league win at Ipswich today.

“He is quick to talk to me after games and give me advice and hints, and I’m grateful to him and all the lads, because they are a great bunch.

“The way they have accepted me into the team has been a massive confidence boost, and having had a taste of league football, I really want more.”

Smith – from Frodsham, near Runcorn – spent eight and a half years at City, originally as a right-back, but never managed a first-team game.

Given the club’s massive spending power, he knew his odds were stacked against him establishing himself at the Etihad.

“I had a great time at City and I certainly benefited from some excellent coaching and facilities,” added the player who is contracted to Town until the end of this season.

“But I knew that with the quality of players they were able to bring in, there wasn’t much chance of progressing through the youth system to the first team.

“I was playing for the reserves, but that was maybe twice a month, and I knew I needed meaningful football on a more regular basis.

“My contract ran to the summer of last year, but I reached agreement with the club to leave in January 2012.

“It was a gamble, and lost of folk said I had made the wrong decision, but I have always been very determined, and I believed I would find another club.

“Looking back, I think I left City at the right age, and while I still have a big admiration for them, I want to ensure my future is here.”

After his departure, Smith trained with Tranmere – “they are the closest club to where I live,” he explained – and had trials at Oxford and Stevenage.

“I think I did okay at both those clubs, and Oxford showed interest in signing me, but for one reason or another it never happened.

“Then I got an invitation from Steve Eyre (Town’s senior development coach) to join the newly-created Under 21 squad at Huddersfield.

“Steve was a coach at City when I was there, and even though he left to manage Rochdale before joining Town, we had kept in touch.

“We had spoken about the developments being made at Town, and the plan to build up the academy and development side of the club.

“I knew it was a great opportunity, and I thought that if I could establish myself in the Under 21s, I would have a chance to catching the eye of the manager.”

Simon Grayson named Smith, at that point still a full-back, in his squad for the FA Cup third-round tie at Charlton last January.

And Mark Robins ran the rule over him during pre-season, playing him as a centre-back at Chesterfield, before handing him a his debut in the Capital One Cup third-round tie at Hull.

“Playing against a Premier League side was fantastic, and having to that game under my belt, I just kept working away in training,” continued Smith.

“When the skipper got his injury, I hoped the manager might turn to me, and when I was involved in some shape work before the game at Sheffield Wednesday, I was very optimistic.”

The Sky Sports-screened success at Hillsborough was followed by another 2-1 win, at home to then-leaders Burnley last Saturday, and Smith, having helped Town reach last season’s Professional Development League II play-off final and hit the top of this term’s North section, won rave reviews in both games.

And at Bolton on Tuesday, he played his part in a welcome clean sheet, starting alongside Anthony Gerrard and Joel Lynch in a 3-5-2 system before switching to right-back in a 4-4-2.

“Clean sheets are big things for defenders, and especially keepers, and I was really pleased for Alex Smithies, who was outstanding,” said Smith.

“Of course we want to build on that performance against Ipswich, but the last three games have shown me that nothing comes easily in this league.

“My three games so far have all been that bit different, and from what we’ve been told, Ipswich will give us another type of challenge.”