Huddersfield Town: Smithies signs new Town deal

The Academy graduate, again in outstanding form as Town beat Reading on Tuesday night, had been contracted to the club until the end of next season.

The news has applied the gloss to Town’s 3-0 victory over the Royals, with goals from Harry Bunn, Nahki Wells and Ishmael Miller helping them move 11 points above the drop zone and leapfrog West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in the table.

Powell said: “Twenty four year-old goalkeepers don’t usually have 250 first team games under their belts.

“Alex is in a class of his own on that front. ‘Keepers get better with age and experience and we are seeing that with Alex.”

Huddersfield also have the option for another 12 months to keep Smithies at the club until 2019.

Revealing his delight at penning fresh terms, Huddersfield-born Smithies, who made his debut as a 17-year-old in December 2007, added: “I can see the club going in the right direction and I know I can achieve things here. We’re progressing steadily and I want to be part of what the next few years will hold.

“As a Huddersfield lad, I take a lot of pride in progressing from our Academy into the first team. I was very proud to help the club gain promotion to the Championship and I want to play my part in the team succeeding at this level too.

“The manager and his staff work very hard and (goalkeeping coach) Nick Colgan is a big factor, as I know working with him every day will make me a better goalkeeper.

“I’m only 24 and although I’ve clocked up quite a few appearances, most goalkeepers don’t peak until their early thirties. There’s a lot more to come from me.”