NATHAN Smith is not about to walk away from his Reggae Boyz gig. He got one taste of it, and he is hooked.

With one cap so far, the Chesterfield left-back, who debuted back in October last year against Honduras in that country, says nothing burns deeper inside than to represent Jamaica, his second home by parentage.

“Yes, I have a strong desire to represent the senior team again… I missed out on the New Zealand (and other) selections, which was upsetting, but I just have to work hard and hope I get selected next time,” said Smith, who was on Sunday, March 25, named Man-of-the-Match in Chesterfield’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final win against Swindon Town at Wembley Stadium.

Smith, 25, said he was being considered for Jamaica’s friendly international for the FIFA calendar date for November, but that match-up did not materialise.

“I got re-invited once after, but it got called off as they weren’t able to organise a match in time for the date… It’s upsetting not to get another call up as I felt I done well in my first game, but it’s the management’s choice and I have to respect that,” Smith told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Not being summoned for Jamaica’s recent swath of matches — which included two against Cuba, one against New A for the month February, and last month’s showdown against Costa Rica — has not deflated Smith’s desire for international football as he intends to fight for a place in Theodore Whitmore’s World Cup side.

“I hope I do get considered. I’ve been working hard in training and in the matches that I have played recently (and) I will also be training in our off season to stay fit, so hopefully, I get another chance,” he noted.

Smith, a London native, said leading up to the Honduras game (which the Boyz lost 1-2) and afterwards, he was given the impression that Whitmore had a genuine interest in him.

“Yeah, Coach Whitmore spoke to me and said what he expects and I felt I done well in the game in Honduras,” he noted.

Smith, who also had a stint at lower division Yeovil Town, said he recognised that if he is going to earn a spot playing in one of Jamaica’s left-sided positions, he will have to fight tooth-and-nail because there could be a crowd gathering out there, including Demar Phillips, Troy Smith, Andrae Campbell, Jermaine Hue and Shaun Francis.

“Yea, I’m aware of the number of left-sided players, but I’ve never had anything given to me for free, so I accept that there will be a lot of competition and I don’t mind that as it helps to bring the best out of me,” he said.

But the lanky Smith who looks at home on the left flank in both defence and attack modes, said his unique playing qualities and unbridled will to succeed could prove decisive in his quest to secure a spot.

“The qualities that I will bring are that I love to defend, love to attack and I have the will to win and I put in my shift for the team every time,” Smith noted.

Meanwhile, Smith is still celebrating his award for League One outfit Chesterfield.

Sidelined for large spells due to groin and ankle injuries and making only ephemeral appearances all season, Smith blazed to glory in the final with a big showing to outshine all others in his team’s dramatic 2-0 win.

“Well, I just made sure I did my job and win my personal battles, especially against the winger. I was up against called Matt Richie, who is the league second’s best player this season,” he explained.

Chesterfield, while relishing their lien on the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy which offered some measure of relief, have a great danger to confront as they flirt with relegation.

They are precariously positioned at the bottom of the 24-team standing on a mere 40 points.

“It’s worrying as no one likes the thought of being relegated. We’re just trying to stay strong and win our last remaining games to survive… it’s a team game and if they go (down) I have to go with them,” he said.

Another Jamaican, Simon Ford, plays at the Derbyshire club, who gained promotion from League Two last season.