Luis Melville of Westside Radio caught up with Tommy Smith at the Training Groudn on Thursday. 

LM: Have you managed to get your head around the fact that you're probably going to be involved in the World Cup this year?
TS: Obviously it's a big deal and it's taken quite a while to come around to the idea but it's going to be such a great experience and opportunity?

LM: Did you know many of the New Zealand squad prior to being selected for the squad?
TS: I knew a couple of them before as I'd played against them for Ipswich. I had a chat to them after the games before I got involved to find out more about the squad and the set up. However, I was going in to a totally new environment with lots of new faces and the first game went well.

LM: In front of 90000?
TS: Yes. Just the 90000!! and what a great experience it was as well. It was unbelievable walking out to that amount of fans with the noise and atmosphere.

LM: What was your own assessment of your performance in that game v Mexico?
TS: Considering it was my debut I though it went alright. I think there is a lot more to come and hopefully I can improve.

LM: Looking at your group fixtures, the stand out game for New Zealand is the game against the current World Champions Italy. I should imagine that day can't come round quickly enough?
TS: That's the one that stands out a mile from the other two. You dream about playing against the big teams in the World Cup Finals and hopefully I can achieve that.

LM: Are you getting a bit of stick off the rest of the lads here?
TS: No not so far. I'm sure as it gets closer I'm sure it will start.

LM: What's it meant to you to be able to come to Brentford and enhance your World Cup prospects?
TS: I think it was vital that I got out on loan and played some games. I'm just happy that Brentford has given me the opportunity to do that and I think that has been a big factor in my being selected for New Zealand.

LM: I presume that you would have spoken to Pim Balkestein to get an overview of Brentford and what you were coming into?
TS: I spoke to Pim and I also spoke to a few who played here last season like Jordan Rhodes, Billy Clarke and Dean Bowditch. They all did well and said only good things about Brentford and how they were treated here. That really tipped my decision.

LM: Andy Scott has made it clear that he wants to help you achieve your goal of getting on that plane to South Africa with New Zealand to achieve your World Cup aspirations. How much has he helped you?
TS: He`s helped me a lot. For a start just selecting me in the team is going to help and he has given me lots of constructive advice along the way which has definitely seen me improve as a player.

LM: The 'All Whites' manager Ricky Herbert, has he given you any indication of your chances of making the final 23?
TS: He said to me prior to the game that if I did alright in the game against Mexico I had a very good chance of making it to the World Cup. I picked up Man of the Match in the home press so hopefully that will help to cement my place.

LM: Not quite Mexico this Saturday but MK Dons are your opposition Saturday. What do you expect from them?
TS: They're a decent side but on our pitch we should feel confident and it could be a battle. Hopefully we can get the 3 points.

LM: We wish you well for New Zealand which I am sure will be every Brentford fans second team in the World Cup and good luck on Saturday.

TS: Cheers.