THIS could be Alan Smith's season.
The young Leeds United striker's two sharply taken goals ensured a winning Premiership start against Everton at sunny Elland Road.
Smith, still only 19, burst on the scene a couple of years ago, but an ankle injury checked his progress last season and he slid down the attacking pecking order.
Now he looks fitter, quicker and stronger and followed up his European goal against 1860 Munich by poaching two more penalty box strikes as Leeds beat the reshaped Blues 2-0.
Leeds manager David O'Leary said of the young predator: "I've had a long talk with him and I'm expecting bigger things from him.
"He's looked very good in training. Now he's got to take that on to the pitch."
Too often last season Smith seemed more likely to collect a booking than score a goal, but he was focussed on his game on Saturday and Everton had
great difficulty in containing him.
A flick of his blond mop on 15 minutes sent Michael Bridges' cross into the net as Everton's marking and concentration evaporated at Lee Bowyer's short corner.
Everton, who had spurned the game's opening chance when Mark Hughes sent a volley over the bar, were driven on by the impressive Alex Nyarko in midfield, whose battle with his former Lens team-mate Olivier Dacourt proved compelling viewing.
Dacourt's all-action style seems certain to win him a legion of fans at Elland Road and his combination work with Eirik Bakke down the right was particularly impressive.
As a result Leeds always carried the greater threat with Smith, Bridges and Mark Viduka showing a lot of promise in attack.
While Smith looked razor sharp, Bridges' touch let him down too often and Viduka has a bit more to do to attain full Premiership fitness.
But the combination looked exciting and was far too mobile for a ponderous Everton defence.
The visitors, who had gone close with a David Unsworth free-kick, were undone by another Bowyer corner routine after 37 minutes, this time from the right.
He dropped it into space about 30 yards from goal where an on-rushing Ian Harte belted in a stunning mid-air volley.
Somehow goalkeeper Paul Gerrard managed to save it, but the hungry Smith gobbled up the rebound in front of the Don Revie stand.
Smith seemed to have a case for a penalty shortly after the interval after Bridges wasted a good chance to put Leeds completely and comfortably out of sight.
Although Walter Smith shuffled his pack by bringing on strikers Duncan Ferguson and Joe-Max Moore before the late introduction of Paul Gascoigne, United's defence - Gary Kelly and Lucas Radebe in particularly - were on top of their game, ensuring a comfortable afternoon for Nigel Martyn.
Moore did have one angled effort calmly cleared off the line by Radebe, but it was Leeds, fortified by the fresh legs of substitutes Darren Huckerby and Danny Mills, who finished the stronger and almost stretched their lead when
Viduka's fine header was superbly saved by Gerrard.
Sadly, Gascoigne's only real contribution was an ill-timed challenge on Bakke which saw the Norwegian stretchered off.
PICTURE: HE STOOPS TO CONQUER: Leeds United striker Alan Smith dives in to score the first of his two goals in the Elland Road club's opening day Premiership success over Everton
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