United defender Chris Smalling couldn't be in a happier place... Having established himself in Sir Alex Ferguson's backline, he made his senior International debut for England last week. The 21-year-old is fastly becoming one of the top defenders in the Premier League, and has years ahead of him...

Smalling scored in United's FA Community Shield victory in early August at Wembley, before playing 3 matches for The Reds at right-back in an equal amount of Premier League wins. On Friday, he was handed his first England cap, in their Euro 2012 Qualifier game against Bulgaria, playing part in Fabio Capello's 3-0 defeat of the home team in Sofia. Wayne Rooney was on the scoresheet twice, while Ashley Young assisted Roo's second. 
 
"My first month couldn't have gone any better, hopefully the season can carry on like this. I'm really enjoying my football. It's gone like a dream." Smalling boasted. "I didn't see myself playing regularly at right-back for United or making my England debut in that position. Hopefully I can do the job for the minute, but my future definitely lies at centre-half. Fabio Capello and Sir Alex Ferguson are great people to be backed by."
 
"Hopefully I can carry on doing that job and they will have faith in me. Capello has probably seen me play more games at centre-half, for him to have the faith in me to play in a different position is great for my confidence, I hope I did him justice." Of Rooney's current form, Chris said: "It's great for me to play with such a special player and special talent for club and country. It is making our job at the back a lot easier when he's scoring a lot of goals."