GONNA STAY, GONNA STAY

Last updated : 04 June 2007 By Ed
Alan Smith has said that he would prefer to sign a new contract at United rather than move to another club.

"I have a contract re-negotiation coming up," he said. "I was due contract talks last year and we decided, the club and myself, that I wouldn't do that when I was injured, because it wasn't fair on them.

"But now I am fit and ready to commit my future. I want to stay at United.

"My agent has spoken with the club and the talks should happen in the next few weeks."

He's also not worried about fighting for a place in the team.

"You know at Manchester United that every year they will sign world-class players. It's an education that makes you mentally strong," he said.

"You know players will come in and that you are not guaranteed to play any games, week in, week out. But this year I came back and played in a Champions League game against Roma and it was probably one of my best performances in a United shirt. But you know you are still not guaranteed a start the following Saturday, and that makes you mentally strong. That is probably how I got through my injuries.

"It's a short career and you have to try to take every opportunity when it comes. That's how I was brought up; how I've been since I was a kid. I will never lose that."