After regular kicker Blake Grupe was waived by the Saints, Smyth, who had been on the practice roster for 18 months, was in a shootout with veteran Cade York to play against the Dolphins.

Galiano said Smyth “showed he was ready” with his performance in the competition, and he was “locked in and focused”.

The 48-year-old was also impressed with Smyth’s field goal attempt in the game in Miami, which he felt would have been good from 70 yards.

Galliano also felt that, if needed in the last play of a game, Smyth had the range for 68 yards – the current record distance for a field goal in the NFL.

“He does get it up really high, and you want that,” he said.

“It’s harder for the big guys to block, which you see when they are lower.

“The higher you get it the less chance you have of it being block, but one of the things that caused him a lot of issues that we’ve been working through, was when we were in California and it was a windy day.

“The further back you go then the wind can affect it a little bit more, so you have to slightly change how you kick the ball. That’s another thing for him to get used to.”