Chris Smalling isn’t satisfied with winning a Premier League title medal with Manchester United – now he wants England glory as well.
London-born Smalling has enjoyed an incredible first season at Old Trafford since making the £10million switch from Fulham.
But the kid who almost missed out on a career in football because he was planning to study for a university degree when he was coming through the ranks at non-league Maidstone, knows that he is still an undergraduate when it comes to completing his football education.
Smalling will line up for England’s youngsters today when Stuart Pearce’s men open their European Under-21 campaign against Spain in Herning.
And the 21-year-old, who will be handed the job of taking care of Valencia’s brilliant playmaker Juan Mata, said: “It has been an epic season for me – and I just want it to continue.
“It is crazy what has happened to me over the last year or so, but once you have had a taste of success you just want it again and again. Hopefully this is what will happen for the rest of my career.
“When I got the chance to become a Manchester United player I knew that it was a massive club and that because they are so used to winning trophies I would have to bide my time and be patient.
“To play a big part in the team’s success has been so exciting for me. I expected a few games, but the magnitude of some of them has been amazing. I already feel that I am a much better player than I was last year because Sir Alex Ferguson has shown confidence in me and I now feel comfortable whoever I come up against.”
England have not been European champions at this level since 1984 – although Pearce saw his men beaten in the final two years ago by Germany.
Unlike most of his team mates, Smalling has got there there hard way. He explained: “It was only three years ago I was playing non-league for Maidstone United and I’ve got to say that I didn’t even dream of playing in these types of games.
“I was studying for my A-Levels at school and then I played on Saturdays.
“More than anything else, it was a case of me concentrating on getting into university.
“I had about five offers from different universities and was probably only five months away from starting my course in Business Management.
“Then the opportunity arose to turn professional and I took it. I was training at Fulham and Charlton and I also went to Middlesbrough for a week – they all made me offers in the February.
“I had a couple of months to choose what I wanted to do and decided to join Fulham. My exams were in June and I started pre-season almost immediately. It was all-go that summer.”
He added: “I know how lucky I am and maybe that’s why I will never take anything for granted.
“I still remember having to take home my shorts and socks to wash myself when I was at Maidstone.
“I think there was one time when a real ‘Stones’ fan recognised me in a corner shop, but now I get stopped quite a lot for my autograph and it’s really flattering.”
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