WHEN Michael Smith pitched up to his first Swindon Town training session on Thursday it was like Gulliver landing on Lilliput, but the Robins’ latest recruit has quickly learnt that what his new teammates lack in height they make up for in skill on the ball.

At six foot, four inches, Smith towers over a number of his diminutive colleagues but the signing from Charlton stressed in his first interview with the local media that his game is not based purely around his strength in the air.

The 22-year-old likes to think he can fit in with the Tiki-taka philosophy adopted by Swindon under manager Mark Cooper this season, saying: “I’ve noticed it’s not the tallest team in the world so I can bring height but I like to link up so hopefully I can bring something to the play.

“There are a few small lads but they’ve got so much ability that the height doesn’t really matter.

“I’ve always learnt that when you play with better players you get better yourself.

“I played in League One last year with Colchester and it is a step up from League Two but I think I can manage it.”

While Town have been monitoring Smith for several months, the striker only learnt of serious interest in him from Swindon on Monday.

By Tuesday evening he was a fully-fledged Robin and he can’t wait to get his teeth stuck into life in Wiltshire.

“Last week I got a phone call off my agent saying there was interest but I didn’t really find out it was serious until Monday. I got a phone call off the manager and it kicked on from there,” he said.

“I know the manager from my time at Darlington and it makes me settle in more. It’s easier to get to know everyone knowing how the manager works.

“I know it’s a massive club, I know it was in the Premier League at one time. I know it’s got a big fan base as well, it’s a big club and I want to play for a big club.

“I spoke to Danny Hollands, who was here last year, and Callum Kennedy, who was at Wimbledon with me, and they’ve all got nice things to say about the club.

“I’m match fit. I played for Charlton under 21s last Monday coming off the back of six months with Wimbledon so I’m ready to go.”