Orjan Nyland joined Aston Villa in the summer transfer window.
Smith has suggested that the performances of Nyland have improved since Neil Cutler started working with the 28-year-old goalkeeper, who joined Villa in the summer transfer window Villa from FC Ingolstadt for a fee reported by The Birmingham Mail to be worth £1 million.
“I think the focus has been on him from the start of the season, which it always is when a new goalkeeper comes in,” Smith told The Birmingham Mail about Nyland. “I can only comment on what I have seen since I have been here.
“Yes, he has had a couple of hairy moments, where he has spilled a couple of crosses.
“But I can honestly say since Neil Cutler has come in and been working with him, I have seen a lot of confidence in him. I think the players have got a lot of confidence in him now.”
Impact on Tom Heaton?
Smith clearly seems to have confidence in Nyland, who is the first-choice goalkeeper at Villa at the moment.
The Norway international did struggle between the posts in the opening weeks of the season, but there have been some encouraging signs recently.
Villa have been linked with Tom Heaton, with The Express reporting that the Championship are interested in signing the 32-year-old Burnley goalkeeper in the January transfer window.
Heaton is struggling for playing time at Burnley, and it is unlikely that the England international – who earns £35,000 per week as salary, according to Spotrac.com – will move to Villa if he is not guaranteed a place in the starting lineup.
With Smith clearly showing confidence in Nyland, perhaps a transfer for Heaton may not happen.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
