DORCHESTER Town Under-23s manager Brian Churchill “can’t say a bad word about” Marcus Smith and is baffled after the midfielder was jettisoned from the Portland United squad.

Under-23s’ captain Smith has scored ten goals in as many appearances for Churchill’s young Magpies this season.

However, Smith has netted just once in 27 appearances for Portland United this season and has struggled for a starting spot under new boss Kyle Critchell.

In Critchell’s seven games as Blues boss, Smith started just twice and was a used substitute in the other five.

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That compares to 16 starts and four matches from the bench under previous manager Franklyn Clarke.

Smith was instantly thrust into Dorchester’s first-team squad for Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Gosport, although he did not play.

Speaking to Echosport after Smith’s return to the Magpies, Churchill admitted the development was "baffling".

He said: “Marcus is our captain for the under-23s and he’s knocking on the door of that first team, he was training with us.

“It’s nice to promote from within and not go out and sign players when we’ve already got players of the ilk to come into Southern League football.

“It’s good experience for Marcus.”

He added: “I think it was a decision made by Kyle. Marcus became available for Saturday football for us, so we snapped his hand off. He’ll be in with us for the rest of the season.

“He’s a real player I like, he knows that. He’s scored a lot of goals for me from midfield.

“I can’t say a bad word about him. It’s a little bit baffling that he’s not in the forefront of Kyle’s mind up at Portland.

“Each manager’s got their own preference and I’d have Marcus straight in my team, that’s for sure.”

Giving his assessment of Smith, Critchell admitted the midfielder had fallen down the pecking order.

He told Echosport: “Marcus was wanting game time and unfortunately I don’t think Marcus gets in front of the midfielders we’ve got at the club at this moment.

“I know Dorchester were looking to potentially take Connor (Callow) and Brin (Doyle) back but those two boys wanted to stay with me.

“We agreed it would be best for Marcus to go and look for pastures new. He wanted to do that as well, so we wish him all the best and hope he achieves everything he wants to in football.

“There’s nothing but positives from my point of view. He’s a good lad, I just didn’t feel like he could get into the starting XI that we’ve got.

“Marcus is a talented boy but he, for me, hasn’t been able to show his best potential.

“Sometimes you just get stale at a club and I think he might’ve done that. He’s got some incredible competition with Jack Delves, Josh Williams and Macca (Ryan McKechnie) as captain.

“We play a two and he (either) didn’t get chances or didn’t take them. I’ve got nothing bad to say against him and I really do hope he fulfils his potential and makes it.”