'Who knows what could happen' - Smalling seeking to maintain Man Utd challenge on four fronts

Chris Smalling believes Manchester United are capable of maintaining trophy challenges on multiple fronts this season.

The Red Devils enjoyed a welcome return to form over the festive period, with victory over Tottenham on December 8 sparking a run of six successive Premier League victories.

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Prior to that, United had seen off Zorya in the Europa League, en route to the last 32 of that competition, and eased past Reading in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

They are now readying themselves for an EFL Cup semi-final clash with Hull City on Tuesday, with the first leg of that contest due to be staged at Old Trafford.

A positive result against the Tigers will edge Jose Mourinho’s side towards major silverware, before attention switches back to the league and a meeting with Liverpool that could bring United even closer to the top four.

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Smalling sees no reason why they cannot continue to compete in four events, with momentum and belief surging through the squad.

He said: “The onus is on us to make sure that we stay in all those four races.

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“I think the more games the better and I am always one that would rather play than train.

“We are looking forward to it and obviously the last eight or nine weeks we have been getting that consistency. We can’t get ahead of ourselves but if we keep up the form like this, then who knows.”

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Smalling is also delighted to be back playing his part in United’s quest for honours, having worked his way back to full fitness after suffering a broken toe in a Europa League fixture with Fenerbahce in October.

The England international missed almost two months of action with the ailment, but has been a regular again over recent weeks and feels he is close to recapturing his best form.

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He added: “It is good to be back. I have been training for over a week now, I am feeling very good and I am looking forward to getting into a rhythm.

“I think there is an opportunity there and, hopefully, I think it’s just a case of who can grab it and get that consistency to stay in that line-up.”