---
title: "What’s next for Chris Smalling?"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2016/09/08/whats-next-for-chris-smalling/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Features"
published: "2016-09-08T09:46:01Z"
modified: "2016-09-08T09:46:01Z"
---

# What’s next for Chris Smalling?

The 2016/17 Premier League season is the seventh for Chris Smalling in Manchester United colours. He has risen up the ranks from a young boy that was bought from Fulham by Sir Alex Ferguson six years ago to a regular in the England national team.

Not a lot of United fans were convinced of his qualities especially after that horrendous foul on James Milner that got him sent off in the Manchester Derby a couple of years ago. Even Louis van Gaal, his Manchester United manager at the time, labelled it as ‘stupid’. But I certainly believed in him.

Now only 26, he has gradually improved his game and he proved that last season as United finished joint top with Tottenham Hotspur with the least amount of goals conceded in the Premier League last season.

Van Gaal even showed faith in him by naming him second vice-captain after Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick and that boosted his confidence. Standing at 192cm, the towering centre back is an aerial threat and he loves to go against big centre-forwards.

![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2016/09/484414330.jpg)

Smalling was part of England’s disastrous Euro 2016 campaign and he would have loved to kick off the season on a good note. However, he missed the Community Shield win against Leicester City through suspension and was ruled out for United’s opening game against Bournemouth due to injury. That gave a chance for Jose Mourinho to test out new signing Eric Bailly with makeshift centre-back partner Daley Blind and it worked brilliantly.

Come the second and third games of the season against Southampton and Hull City and he came on as a substitute in both matches even though he was back to full fitness. He was also included in Sam Allardyce’s England squad to play Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier but lost his starting place to Manchester City’s John Stones. With the Manchester Derby this Saturday, he might not be in contention for the starting eleven.

![Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2016/09/490706386.jpg)

So has Jose Mourinho lost faith in Chris Smalling? Personally, I do not think so. With the domestic cups and Europa League coming, I believe that Smalling’s place in the squad is not in jeopardy. He will surely get a run in the team if he keeps showing a positive attitude and mindset in training.