Source: PA
Smalling finding his voice
Sir Alex Ferguson has already expressed his delight at Chris Smalling's introduction to life at Manchester United. Now he wants the defender to start shouting at his team-mates.
Smalling started his seventh consecutive game for United at Old Trafford on Saturday when he anchored a beleaguered defence in the 1-0 Barclays Premier League win over Bolton.
It continued an incredible debut season with the Red Devils for the 21-year-old, who has confounded low summer expectations about the number of games he would play after arriving from Fulham. However, it is not just the volume of matches that has taken Smalling by surprise. He has also had to assume far more responsibility.
With Rio Ferdinand missing for chunks of the campaign and skipper Nemanja Vidic also falling victim to United's defensive injury curse, Smalling cannot afford to let others dictate to him, which is why Ferguson and his coaching staff are urging the Londoner to let his team-mates know he is around.
"The coaching staff want me to start expressing myself a bit more," said Smalling. "They think I am a bit quiet on the pitch. But it is starting to come. With more games I am sure that confidence will come across.
"At set-pieces in particular you have to be a figurehead when you are in central defence. You have to dictate and make sure people are marking. I have to make sure that comes across."
