The central-defender’s fleeting performances for Fulham and the England Under-21 team were enough to identify the 20-year-old as an indispensable young talent. Smalling’s top attributes are his pace and his intelligent approach, particularly his ability to read the game. On top of this, he is six feet five inches tall and consequently, a dangerous target in the box from set-pieces, as he has already shown on the Red Devils’ pre-season tour. Smalling’s athletic ability should be beneficial both at the heart of the United defence and at the other end of the pitch.






