The teenage striker scored in three successive games as a substitute at the start of the season – including the late equaliser at Kettering Town.

But the return of Daryl Clare from a broken jaw has left Smith out of the 16-man matchday squad with Lee Phillips and Michael Rankine on the bench.

And he was also absent from the Diamonds side that drew 1-1 with
Altrincham last night prompting the prospect of some action elsewhere.

Diamonds player-coach Chris Hope admitted: "Sam has done ever so well for us.

"He was thrown into the mix towards the end of last season because we didn't have the numbers.

"He works hard in training at his game. Due to injuries he has played and got goals.

"But he's only a young boy and, unfortunately for him, we've got
strikers in front of him at the moment.

"Sam is staying here on a long-term contract so that shows what we think about him.

"This is an important time now for Sam.

"We're not in a reserve league so if the right club came in then a loan spell would be good for his schooling and match fitness.

"He needs to be ready if we want to throw him back in there.

"It's going to be difficult for Sam to break into the side at the moment.

"But he's going to be a big player for Diamonds in years to come.

"This is also encouraging to see kids coming through from the youth
team with the likes of Sam and Jake Beecroft."