Smalling - I Owe The Cottagers

Smalling will return to Craven Cottage with Manchester United on Sunday less than two months after joining the Old Trafford outfit.

It says much for the respect Sir Alex Ferguson had for Roy Hodgson's regime that he allowed Smalling to remain with Fulham for the remainder of last season, even though the £7m transfer was completed in time for him to move during the January transfer window.

The benefits of life under Hodgson's command are not lost on the 21-year-old either, so while his old boss is no longer around, there are a few people he wants to catch up with.

"I owe Fulham a lot," said Smalling. "They gave me my chance. When I finished school they gave me the chance to develop. I was in the reserves and then broke into the first-team squad last year. I made a lot of friends there, a lot of coaches who helped me are still there.

"Billy McKinlay gave me a lot of support over the last couple of years and he deserves a lot of credit. It will be a bit weird going back but I hope it will be an enjoyable day."

Source: PA

Source: PA