Newcastle midfielder Alan Smith has frankly admitted that he isn't the player that he used to be, and that he is lucky to still be playing football after his career-threatening injury in 2006.

The 29-year-old has reinvented himself as a defensive midfielder since arriving on Tyneside in 2007, and has responded well to Championship life after being appointed as the Magpies captain at the beginning of the season.

And despite helping to guide his side to the near-summit of English football's second tier, Smith has taken the refreshingly self-critical line that he is not the footballer of his early noughties pomp.

"I am an honest person, I know that I'm not as good as I was. I don't play as freely but I'm lucky to still be playing," he told The Sun.

The former Leeds hitman was referring to his horrific injury sustained while playing for Manchester United against Liverpool in 2006, where he dislocated his ankle and broke his leg in an incident that Sir Alex Ferguson described as 'the worst I've ever seen'.

Newcastle can reclaim top spot with a win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Monday night, and despite his reservations over his ability, Smith believes he could still cut it in the Premier league, as Chris Hughton's side look to bounce straight back to the big time.

"I love playing in this position and could still do it in the Premier League," he added.