Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is confident that the Phil Jones will prove his worth once he gets a run of games this season.
Smalling has garnered widespread praise for his commanding performances at the heart of the Manchester United defence this season and his partnership with Daley Blind did earn plaudits.
However, Van Gaal decided to insert Jones in place of Blind following their defeat at Arsenal and the Smalling-Jones centre back pairing have already kept two back-to-back clean sheets against Everton and Manchester City respectively.
Injuries to both have not allowed them to play as regularly as they would have liked, but Smalling indicated that the partnership will become more formidable as they start playing more as they have been together since their England Under-21 days.
“We have been together from the England Under-21s and being around the same age, I think you do just click and get on”, Smalling was quoted as saying by The National.
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“We train and go away with England on internationals together so we are very good friends.”
Smalling is confident that like him, if Jones manages to stay away from injuries and gets a run of games, he will also start proving his value for both Manchester United and England.
“We both have confidence in ourselves.
"I knew that this time would come and I could get a good year to show what a good player I am and I think he has got the same confidence in himself that he can stay away from injuries and he can show everyone as well.”
Jones joined the Red Devils from Blackburn in the summer of 2011 and has made 134 appearances for the club.
He missed the start of the current season with a mild thrombosis and will be hoping to cement his partnership with Smalling at the heart of the Manchester United’s defence for the rest of the campaign.
