Dominic Smith ready to go for Shrewsbury Town clash against Southend United

The on-loan Town central defender then joined up with the Welsh under-21 squad for international duty in a bid to add to his already impressive résumé of youth team caps.

Fast-forward a few weeks and the 20-year-old has been recalled by his parent club's new manager, after Micky Mellon departed Salop for National League Tranmere Rovers and Paul Hurst arrived from League Two Grimsby Town.

One of Hurst first's actions at Greenhous Meadow was to re-call Smith from Barrow, where he'd featured on six occasions in the National League before losing his first-team spot after Welsh duty.

A confidence boost for the home-grown youngster, a firm favourite with the Salop supporters after a vastly impressive 2015/16 campaign saw him clock up 24 first-team appearances.

And with defender Ryan McGivern suspended and Adam El-Abd and Olly Lancashire getting over knocks – it isn't beyond reason to imagine Smith to be back among Hurst's thoughts at Southend tomorrow – where he will feature in front of crowd of over 6,000.

"He doesn't want to chuck me right in the deep end, because I haven't had a game in a couple of weeks, but if I am needed then I'm ready to put a shift in," admitted the humble youngster.

"Paul's amazing. He said that he noticed me when I was a 16-year-old about four years ago so it's nice to hear stuff like that, I must have done well! He did well at Grimsby, getting them promoted into League Two and i think he can turn it around here.

"He's a really good manager.

"He likes to speak with the lads and doesn't like to leave anyone out – that can lift the whole team."

Smith was handed his Shrewsbury League debut by former boss Mellon, who then entrusted him with a regular spot in his defence despite Salop battling the drop last term.

The Greenhous Meadow academy graduate admitted is was a personal shock to hear of Mellon's departure three weeks ago.

"I was away with Wales at the time and then I'm getting texts saying the gaffer's left," said Smith.

"It was a bit of a shock to me but I've got to be able to handle that.

"I am young but it will happen over the time in football.

"Micky's given me my Shrewsbury league debut and he put a lot of trust in me last season even when we were fighting to stay up. I will always have massive respect for him."

His brief stint at Barrow was a second spell out on-loan in non-league football for the well-rounded young man, having spent time with Tamworth in early 2014.

Smith smirked at the prospect of comparing a Coventry away day to the National League – but confirmed it benefited his development.

"It's completely different there," he said frankly.

"If you think of going to Coventry where you have your own individual changing rooms, it's a lot smaller at Barrow but it's a different side of football – I've really enjoyed it so I can't really complain.

"They're all full time, a lot you would've seen in the League, like Danny Livesey and Byron Harrison, it's good so I can take bits of experience for them for my game."