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As Liverpool FC prepare for their second chance in the FA Cup against Exeter City, Brad Smith takes time to reflect on his own.

At the start of November, the Australian found himself in footballing purgatory, a stand-off between the club and his representatives which saw him out of contract but still registered at Anfield.

At the start of December, new deal signed, he was firing a cross onto the head of Divock Origi in Liverpool's 6-1 win at Southampton.

Now, in January, Smith is preparing for what is likely to be his first competitive appearance at Anfield, fresh from a tie-saving goal at St James Park 12 days ago.

It has been a whirlwind three months for the Australian. Little wonder, then, the 21-year-old is not looking back to what could have been, but instead forward to what can become.

“What happened in the summer is in the past,” he says of his contract situation. “I am just trying to enjoy my football.

“It was great to score and great to get an assist for Divock as well in my first game for a long time. “That was a great feeling.

“I am just enjoying being back with all the lads and I am glad it is going well.”

Smith's contract expired in June, but he was never released by the Reds, who felt if he was to leave, he would do so commanding a tribunal fee.

He would not sign a contract with Liverpool until November – having trials at Barnsley and Norwegian club Rosenborg during his spell on the sidelines – but has found himself in Jurgen Klopp's thoughts over the past few months.

“Was I worried it was the end? Yes definitely,” admits Smith. “A lot of things go through your mind when things like that are happening.

“You don’t know what is going to happen, it is hard, hard for your family and friends. The way it has gone it is working out.

“I was living with my mum at the time and I was speaking to staff at Liverpool throughout the whole time.

“I am just glad the way it has turned out.”

IN PICS: Exeter v Liverpool

'I felt like a senior player at Exeter!'

The left back's late strike saw Klopp's embryonic side secure a 2-2 draw, giving them another opportunity at progressing into the fourth round, where a home tie with West Ham awaits.

The side that managed to come out of Exeter unscathed was the second youngest starting line-up in Liverpool's history, averaging under 23 years old. Five players made their debuts while the two goalscorers, Smith and Jerome Sinclair, registered their first strikes for the club.

Smith reels off the starting 11 he was a part of in Devon. He had not played with five of the starting line-up, with limited time spent with a couple of others. Jose Enrique, who lined up next to him as the left-sided centre back, played with him in an Under-21s game against Manchester United.

It was another thing to battle – so, too, the expectation of Exeter pulling off a shock in front of a worldwide audience.

He added: “It is difficult. It was the same for a lot of players they hadn’t played with each other and for some of the players coming back off loan it was the first time they had met the manager.

“It was a challenge to come together quickly and I think we all put a good shift in and it was good to get a replay in the end. I think we showed a lot of heart for such a young team.

“The pitch was difficult, they were up for it, the young boys were up for it as well and it was good to get the replay.

“I felt a little bit like a senior player. Cameron had played a few times and then you had a couple of senior players like Jose, Bogdan and Christian. They took the lead role, but yes I know I am not the youngest in the group anymore so I tried to help out. It was good.

“We all dug in and it was good. If people were expecting us to fail then that’s up to them, but the boys dug in. they didn’t get what they wanted.”

'All the young lads are enjoying it'

The arrival of Klopp brought general excitement surrounding his deployment of youth, much like he did at Borussia Dortmund, but even with the injuries and fixture congestion few would have expected such a youthful side.

Few would have suspected Smith would be a prime profiter, either.

Perhaps they should have. Liverpool are weak in the full back position and Smith has exhibited the sort of attributes Klopp likes in a player: he has technique, but marries that with heart.

Klopp, unsurprisingly, is a big topic of discussion for any young player.

“The manager has been really good,” continues Smith. “Obviously there are a few youngsters up at Melwood that he has been looking at, he has been helping a lot and is really hands on with the young players and he tells you want he wants.

“All the young lads are enjoying it and are getting a good chance, especially with the injuries.

“He has been working generally, but he has been telling me what he wants from me in terms of my crossing and when he wants me to put my crosses in which is helping a lot to be honest. He is really good, he is always hands on with every single player as individuals. Everyone is benefiting.

“I am just happy to be at Melwood every day and working with the manager. Being with the first team every day helps you improve a lot. It is the same for the likes of Cameron [Brannagan] and Connor [Randall].

“They are improving every day, it is good to be up here and I will just see what happens and try and get some more game time.

“I’m getting experience, being around the bench and big games like Arsenal. The crowd was booming, so it was a good experience again. I am just trying to learn from it all really and when I get the call from the manager to come on I am just trying to do my best to help out the team.”

'Klopp loves his hugs'

Smith's ascension into Klopp's plans has been as unorthodox as the formative stages of his footballing career. Born in Australia, he moved over to England aged 14 – but did so with some achievements in other sporting spheres. Indeed, he could have taken a different track before he was a teenager.

“I did sprinting from the age of nine to 14 until I came over here,” he says. “I was better at the 200m – I used to do it in 22 seconds and 100m in 11 seconds flat. I was about 14.

“I used to run for the school and if you won you went to a national level. I never actually won at the top, top level. I was third once.

“I started playing football at 10. I was doing both. I used to do sprint training, but then I had to put that aside and do it for school and stuff. I got more into football.”

His background in athletics does not surprise given his display against Exeter down the left-hand side.

On a tricky pitch, he was one of Liverpool's stand-out stars, dealing with the rough and tumble of the League Two opposition but also providing a moment of quality when needed, latching on to a loose ball in the box and firing the Reds to a replay.

It ranks as one of the high points of his career so far – with his first start at Sion “probably” top – but the strike set up a moment that could even outstrip that: his home debut.

“There was the goal as well. I don’t usually score which is why my celebration was a bit poor, but it was good to get my first goal for Liverpool.

“[The replay] will be a huge occasion. Let's see what team the manager wants to put out, but it would be a special moment for me and a lot of the young lads if we get another chance to walk out at Anfield.”

It has been a hectic few months for Smith. His first start, his first goal, and potentially his first taste of Anfield. He has also ticked something else off the list – the trademark Klopp pep talk.

“It was difficult [to say anything] because after the game it was such a tight changing room that we just wanted to go and get the plane back. But he just said congratulations and he was happy.

“I got a hug, yes, he loves his hugs doesn’t he?"