FORMER Colchester United defender Tommy Smith has a new club.

The 33-year-old, who was released by the U's at the end of last season, has linked up with MK Dons on a free transfer.

Smith is set for an early return for North Essex, with the U's hosting MK Dons on August 19.

 

Smith told iFollow MK Dons: “It’s brilliant to get the deal sorted and over the line.

“I’m delighted to be here and hopefully I can help contribute to a successful season.

“I got a call from the Gaffer to see if I’d be interested in coming in to train and I jumped at the chance.

"I have enjoyed my couple of weeks here so far, getting to know the manager and the players, so it was an easy decision to sign.

“This is quite a young squad and I know the Gaffer wants me to come in and use my experience as much as I can, on and off the pitch.

 

"First and foremost, I want to contribute on the pitch and help the team get points on the board but naturally I’ll try and be an experienced voice and help the players around me.”

Smith made 95 league and cup appearances for Colchester during his three-year spell at the JobServe Community Stadium, scoring three times.

MK Dons head coach Graham Alexander told the club's website: “Adding Tommy’s abilities on the pitch, as well as his character off it, will be a big thing for us.

 

"He’s a no-nonsense defender, who will go in where it will hurt but he’s also someone who is tactically aware and can pass that information on to the team.

“He played in the pre-season game against Barnet and then came with us to Germany. We liked how he trained and how he interacted with everybody. He also showed us how motivated he is to contribute to the team this season.

“Already, in the short space of time that he’s been with us, we have seen him pass on the experience and knowledge he has from playing at a higher level and internationally. However, he’s not coming in to just be a mouthpiece for us – he’s motivated to be a valuable player for us.”