Smalling Issues Sprint-race Challenge

Chris Smalling has jokingly revealed he is keen to have a race at the Aon Training Complex to discover if he is the fastest player at Manchester United as the players, bar Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo, return to pre-season training.

Team-mate James Wilson indicated GPS tests had found the centre-back to be the Reds' quickest star but data from Tracab suggested Wayne Rooney clocked the highest speed in last year's Barclays Premier League matches.

"I would back myself against the majority, whether it be over five, 10 or 40 metres," stressed Smalling to ManUtd.com. "That might surprise a few people but I think, if you ask most of the lads, they wouldn't want to race me!"

When asked which of his pals would be the closest competitor, he answered: "Willo, Angel [Di Maria] and probably Youngy [Ashley Young]. We're the speedsters!"

And, throwing down the gauntlet, the England international added: "We haven't really had a race. When we warm up, we do five or 10-metre sprints but they're generally in fours or fives so it's not an actual race. But hopefully, come pre-season, we can have one – I'm game for that!"

Credit: Manutd.com