CRAIG Mackail-Smith has vowed to forget about speculation surrounding his future and play with a smile on his face – after ribbing from his Albion team-mates about a move to Leeds.

The £2.5 million striker was strongly linked with a switch to the Yorkshire giants during the close season but returned from injury to star in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Hull in the Seagulls’ opening Championship game of the season.

Mackail-Smith, speaking for the first time about the transfer rumours, told The Argus: “If there was something that came up I know the gaffer would come and tell me and then it would be a decision, sitting down and talking to him and deciding where we go, but nothing came of it.

“I got a lot of banter from the boys, telling me to pack my bags and singing Leeds songs to me. My focus was on getting fit and making sure I was ready for the first game of the season.

“There is speculation around all the time and if you let it affect you then it gets to you and your game goes. I just get on with it.”

Mackail-Smith admits he put too much pressure on himself last season, when he scored ten goals following his club record move to Albion from Peterborough.

He said: “Last season was getting to know the boys. Maybe I put a lot more pressure on myself than I realised, thinking I needed to prove what a good player I am after the big money they paid for me.

“This season it is a case of just enjoying it and playing with a smile on my face, because I know I can score goals. I just want to enjoy every game. Maybe I didn’t do that last season.

“If I do that then the goals will start flowing.”