Sheffield United have been massively let down at left-back this season with Andy Taylor and Jordan Stewart not exactly pulling up many trees in the void the Scotsman left this season due to injury. Naysmith was arguably United's unsung hero last season, making a total of 43 appearances and consistently putting in workmanlike performances in a settled backline.
Today (Wednesday), Naysmith endured 75 minutes in a reserve game at Bramall Lane against Port Vale. Incidentally, the Valiants ran out 1:0 winners with a close-range goal in the second-half.
The 31-year-old looked comfortable and composed in his familiar left-back slot, and nearly got an assist after going on a mazy run and whipping a delightful ball into the box but a Blades youngster couldn't capitalise.
In an interview after the game, Naysmith confesses to being happy with just playing again, no matter what the level and standard, but does hope to be included in United's appetising Steel City Derby with Sheffield Wednesday later this month.
He said: "I'll probably be on the bench on Saturday (against Coventry City), then be playing a reserve game next Wednesday, with a view of being involved against Sheffield Wednesday on the 18th. I told everybody five or six weeks ago that I want to be involved in the Steel City Derby, that's my aim. I want to play, I desperately want to play in that game, but I understand that'll be up to the gaffer to decide.
"If that game comes too early, we still have two games left.; I'm just hoping I can play a few games before the end of the season. The Sheffield Wednesday game is a game you want to play in, they're the sort of games I want to play in, without any disrespect to any other teams."
Speaking on his reserve stint this (Wednesday) afternoon, he said: "I wanted to play the whole game but the physio ordered me to come off after 75 minutes. I've had no ill effects after the game but I'll see how it is in the morning. Everything's going to plan. Although today was only the reserves, my positioning had to be right and that's what I was mainly working on - I wanted to make sure the knee felt OK."
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