Smalling Voted Players' Player Of The Year

Manchester United's first-team stars have voted Chris Smalling as their Player of the Year for 2015/16, recognising the defender’s superb season and illustrating the high regard in which he is held by his colleagues.

Smalling has taken on the mantle of leader and enforcer at the heart of the Reds’ defence this term, making more than 50 appearances in all competitions, mostly alongside Daley Blind, and captaining the side when both Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have been absent.

Relishing the physical battles with some of the Barclays Premier League’s more robust strikers, the 26-year-old's bravery, strong positional sense and supreme fitness have been a major factor in United’s record of 17 clean sheets, the most in the division.

On collecting his award, Smalling said: "It’s a massive honour to receive this from my fellow players. There are some big names on the winners' list, so it’s great to add mine to it.

"It’s been good that we [Blind and myself] have been able to play so consistently together and learn each other’s game. We’ve been quite solid as a team defensively.

"[The captaincy] is a huge honour and it’s great that the manager has shown faith in me. It’s nice that after Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney I get the chance. It really adds to your own sense of leadership.

"It’s nice to win this award tonight, but I’m looking forward to hopefully picking up another trophy at Wembley in a few weeks."