Jonte Smith, the Crawley Town striker, has embarked on his third loan spell of the season after joining Gosport Borough in the Conference South.

Smith has not played a competitive match since returning to his parent club in November from loan stints at Havant & Waterlooville and Metropolitan Police.

Despite featuring regularly on the substitutes’ bench, he is yet to make an appearance under Crawley manager John Gregory, who replaced Ritchie Barker shortly after Smith’s return to the Broadfield Stadium.

Having endured a frustrating stop-start season, the 19-year-old will be hoping to hit the goal trail at Gosport, starting on Saturday when the Hampshire side travel to face Weston-super-Mare.

“I’m just hoping that I can score some goals, get some good playing time and keep improving as a player,” Smith said.

“It will be good to get some game time under my belt, work on my match sharpness, and then see how things go from there.

“I’ve been limited these last two months, so going out on loan I’ll get the chance to play a lot more. Playing games is the best way to increase your ability.

“If I go there and score some goals you never what can happen next.”

Although Smith has had to adapt to life under Gregory, a former Aston Villa manager, he said his commitment and dedication on the training pitch has remained absolute.

“A new manager has come in and I’ve just been trying to buy into his brand of football,” Smith added. “There’s always a bit of change when a new manager comes in but as a footballer that’s just something you have to deal with.

“You’ve just got to adapt and go about doing what you do best and that’s playing well and training well.”

Smith admitted he was desperately short of match practice but insisted his high confidence level had not diminished during the last two months warming the bench.

“I haven’t played a game since November but I still feel confident and the goal is still in the same place” Smith said.

“I’ve been on the bench and while it’s always good to be involved in first team football, obviously you want to play as much as possible.”

After being sidelined for nearly two months through injury, Smith was loaned out to Havant & Waterlooville in September, where he failed to nail down a regular starting berth. He then joined Met Police for a month, continuing his recovery before being recalled by then Crawley manager Barker.

The most successful stint of Smith’s fledging career came last season at Met Police where he netted 24 goals in 19 appearances.