BEN Smith is counting the days until he can resume his Hereford United career after a dislocated shoulder brought his pre-season to an abrupt end.

The midfield playmaker had been one of the Bulls more impressive performances until a bad fall against Bromsgrove Rovers ruled him out for the start of the season.

After an injury-disrupted year at Southend United, Smith is hoping that this latest injury is not a sign of things to come at Edgar Street.

"I had some bad luck with injuries at South-end and I'm just hoping this is not a bad omen for the rest of the season as well," he said.

The injury came at the worst time for Smith who was just beginning to show the ability that made Arsenal sign him as an apprentice.

"It's frustrating especially coming to a new club and you want to show people what you can do," he explained.

"The important thing for me had been to get a whole pre season under my belt and not get injured so this is obviously a setback.

"Hopefully I can get back as soon as possible."

Graham Turner's capture of Smith had much to do with the uncertainty which has gripped football of late, particularly after the collapse of the ITV Digital deal.

Smith elected to sign a one-year deal with Hereford rather than accept the month to month contract offered by Southend.

Still just 23, Smith is relishing the chance of playing first team football, an experience he was denied earlier in his career at both Arsenal and Reading.

At Highbury, especially, Smith felt he was fighting a losing battle from the start and chose to move rather than be ground down by the lack of opportunities.

"Unless you are an international you've got virtually no chance of playing first team football," he said.

"It's so hard and at Arsenal I didn't even get to play a reserve team match.

"I saw a lot of players before me, who were stagnating in the reserves with no chance of making the first team and developing, and I didn't want that to happen to me.

"It is frustrating because I've got faith in my ability but the same thing happened at Reading.

"I thought I was doing better than some experienced players in the first team but they were always given a chance.

"By January, February time you just end up disillusioned."