JOSH Wakefield revealed how playing with a smile would be his main aim at Poole Town and admitted: "I have not enjoyed the past year and a half at all."

The 23-year-old midfielder was released by Cherries last summer having made four first-team appearances, all of which were in 2012.

Wakefield's time at Dean Court included a string of loan spells at the likes of Yeovil, Bristol Rovers and Torquay and following his exit, he spent the first half of this season with Aldershot.

However, after being released by the National League side last month,Wakefield joined Dolphins on a non-contract basis.

He has made three appearances for Poole to date and will hope to feature when the Black Gold Stadium side take on visitors Weston-super-Mare tomorrow (3pm).

Asked if he was assessing his future on a game-by-game basis, Wakefield told the Daily Echo: "Yes, it depends on my situation and the situation the club's in.

"Last week we drew with Maidenhead and on Tuesday we beat St Albans, and they are both teams at the top end of the league, so I see no reason to be going anywhere soon if we keep pushing and playing well.

"In my last year at Bournemouth, I went to Yeovil on loan but apart from that I didn't really play at all. Then at Aldershot this season I was in and out of the team. I need minutes under my belt and so far, I've got that at Poole, so it's good.

"You can do all the training in the world but there's nothing like playing matches in order to progress. The only thing any player wants to be doing is playing. If you are not on the pitch very often, it gets frustrating.

"To be honest, I have not enjoyed past year and a half at all and I need to get back to enjoying football and playing again. I'm doing that here so, hopefully, things will get better."

Wakefield still harbours ambitions to return to the professional game and remains optimistic it could happen.

He said: "If a full-time team wanted me to be part of their set-up then that would be great.

"At the moment I'm just going to play every game I'm picked for, try to do my best and if full-time football is a thing I can get back into, great. If not, I'll be doing something else.

"Someone from Hampton & Richmond signed for Portsmouth the other week (Nicke Kabamba) and there are many cases of players who get into the professional game having been in this league and the league above.

"I think it's actually more common these days than it has ever been."

For now, though, Branksome-based Wakefield is content to be at Poole.

"I'm only 23 but I feel as if I've had a 15-year career already!" he joked. "I've been to Yeovil, Bristol Rovers, Torquay, Dagenham and Welling – I've been all over the place.

"I moved to Farnham when I played for Aldershot but now I'm back down here. I live round the corner from the ground so it's perfect for me."