MICHAEL Smith has revealed that his youthful Swindon Town teammates are not afraid to offer each other “a kick up the backside”.

As Andy Williams is the only first team regular over the age of 24, it might be expected that the County Ground changing room be bereft of firm voices amongst the playing staff, simply due the relative lack of experience.

With the Robins looking to rediscover their pre-international break form against League One big boys Sheffield United today strong character will be required.

Smith insists it is within the squad’s make-up to call each other out on mistakes and address problems with maturity that belies their years.

“It’s said a lot that we’ve got a young squad but we know ourselves that we’ve got to drag other players through it,” explained the Geordie hitman.

“You’ve got to get the best each other and sometimes some of them need a kick up the backside. There’s a lot of mature, big characters in the squad, even though we are so young and there’s a lot of players that will do that.

“I’ve been in and around first teams for about four or five years now, the maturity in that changing room is exactly the same as I’ve come across where the average age is maybe 26/27. The lads are learning every week so hopefully that will continue.”

However according to the 22-year-old his boss Mark Cooper is not one to provide the histrionics. Smith added: “We know ourselves the jobs we’ve got to do on the football pitch.

“Therefore not having a manager telling you again, after the lads have told you, or you’ve been telling yourself, it’s nice to have a calm head coming in to reassure you that there is another game on Saturday, and you can go again.”