By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner – delighted with his sides 2-1 comeback win over Sunderland RCA on Tuesday night – has added to the squad by signing midfielder Liam Smith.

Skinner said: “Liam will come in and add even further competition to what is already a really strong squad. I worked with him at Newcastle United when he was probably one of the hottest young prospects within the club. He’s had a little bit of a rough time with injuries and after leaving Newcastle went to Blackpool then to a few football league clubs. Last season he was at Hebburn and played a couple of games towards the back end (of last season) and was promised a contract in America – only that hasn’t quite worked out the way it should have done for various reasons.”

He continued: “Liam is somebody I know really well. I stuck an arm out and said to him ‘look come and work with me; we’ve worked with each other before; I know what you are capable of; you have nothing to prove; come and get your love back a little bit for football’ – and he also knows one or two of the lads who are in our dressing room from his days at Newcastle. He’s a fit lad who is studying sports science and does some sports science work in a high performance gym so he’s in good shape. So it’s the football functional movement side of things which we’ll get back into him and once he hits the ground running, he’ll be a big asset for the club. Liam is a very forward thinking attacking player, who plays anywhere across the front line or in behind. He adds further options and more quality to what is already a very good squad.”