Smalling: I Am Fit & Ready

Chris Smalling is happy to be over the broken toe that prevented him from featuring in 12 Manchester United matches, with his return coinciding with a crucial spell for the Reds.

The increasingly-experienced centre-back sustained his injury during the 4-1 Europa League victory over Fenerbahce on 20 October and played against Chelsea in the Premier League three days later.

It was then decided Smalling needed a period of rehabilitation to allow his toe to recover and he did not return until the 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on 17 December, almost two months later.

Smalling’s recent availability is a boost for Jose Mourinho with Eric Bailly currently away on international duty with Ivory Coast and Marcos Rojo nursing a muscle injury that forced his exit during the first half of Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Reading, in which Chris helped to keep a clean sheet.

Speaking to reporters after that third-round success, Smalling gave a positive update on his broken toe and renewed fitness. “It was during the Fenerbahce game when I came off at half time,” the England international explained. “I did it then and obviously you try to carry on in games after. Then you just have to sort of give in and it needed the rest, and now I am back and I have no problems.

“I had the knock and then I had a long couple of months but then I got it right and now it is fine,” Smalling continued. “It’s a case of getting back into a rhythm and showing consistent performances.

“It is good to be back. I have been training for over a week now, I am feeling very good and I am looking forward to getting into a rhythm. I think there is an opportunity there and, hopefully, I think it’s just a case of who can grab it and get that consistency to stay in that line-up.”

Smalling was also “chuffed” for Wayne Rooney after the United captain drew level with Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time scoring record for the club, stating his opinion that the 31-year-old striker is “underappreciated” in football and will be a “big miss” when he eventually retires from the game.

After lavishing praise on Rooney, the centre-back moved his attention to Marcus Rashford following his welcomed two-goal haul against the Royals. Smalling believes his 19-year-old team-mate can also break records at the club, because he already has the right attitude and temperament.

“It’s good to put the pressure on him because he can handle it and he has shown that,” Chris said. “He has gone from one level to the next and you saw his performance, the amount of chances he created.

"He could have had more goals and still ended up with two. I think if he can stay injury free there is no stopping him in terms of what sort of records he could get.”