AT 19 YEARS OLD centre-half Harvey Smith is looking forward to another taste of the senior game and his first Edgar Street league experience.

Smith has joined the Bulls on an initial one-month long loan from Bristol City to help with current shortage of defenders.

After joining the Bristol City Academy as an under-10 Smith has progressed through the age groups and was offered a professional contract with City last summer.

Smith had his first taste of senior football on loan at Weston-super-Mare last season and is looking forward to learning more about the men's game.

“At Weston there was elbows being thrown, they were sticking it on you, they were putting the ball up in the air for you to head and all sorts," said Smith following his first appearance in a Bulls shirt during Hereford's 3-0 defeat to Cardiff City.

“It’s definitely more physical (than the under-23 game) that’s the biggest difference. I’m looking forward to it and I need to get tougher, stronger and to get used to that sort of physicality football.

“Also I need to learn to play against different types of strikers as well as the under-23s forwards come a lot to feet and run in the space behind but you. You might get more of a tussle and fight in this league and I’m looking forward to it for sure.

“I feel like going up for headers is a big part of being a centre-back where I can improve and coming to Hereford in the National League North I’m going to have more practice winning headers against big strikers.

“(Ryan) Green was good today and talked me through it and helped me out. I was at Weston-super-Mare last season with Danny (Greenslade) so I know him well and he’s a good player as well.

“There was lots of talking, communicating, helping each other out and pushing each other, it’s all good.”

Smith will still be training with Bristol City under-23s during the daytime alongside playing matches and training for Hereford.

His team-mate Cameron Pring had a successful spell with the Bulls last season and Smith is also looking forward to playing at a packed Edgar Street over the next month.

He added: “Hereford is a massive club and is a league club really, the fans and everything is a big attraction to come here.

“Even today (against Cardiff City) compared to Weston last year the highest I played in front of was 500 so today was more than what I was used to.

“It’s good to get lots of people watching you and being in the spotlight. The fans will let you know if you’re not on it or do everything right but that’s good, they will drive you and push everybody up a level.”