Smalling seeks more goals

Chris Smalling would love to be passed fit to face Liverpool this weekend - and get a chance to join the list of Old Trafford defenders who've scored against Manchester United's arch-rivals. The tall and versatile 22 year-old would follow in the footsteps of Wes Brown (2007/8), Rio Ferdinand (2005/06 and 2006/07) and Mikael Silvestre (two goals in 2004/05) if he was to hit the net in a home clash with the Merseysiders, while famously John O'Shea in 2006/07 and Gary Pallister a decade earlier came up from the back to successfully attack at Anfield. "I’m definitely working hard on my role at corners and free-kicks in order to make an impact," Smalling told Inside United and ManUtd.com. "When I joined, one or two of the coaches pointed out that they were looking for goals from the centre-halves. Obviously Nemanja Vidic scores a few and if you can add goals to your armoury it’s a massive plus point." Smalling has already scored against both Chelsea and Manchester City in 2011/12, having opened his goals account for the Reds in a Carling Cup tie at Scunthorpe United during his debut season. "Hopefully I’ll keep finding the net and contribute a bit more in the future. I don’t want us to be relying all the time on the strikers for goals," he added. Stopping opposition strikers will of course remain Smalling's priority and he's keeping a keen eye on how his adversaries in English football are evolving. "I think centre-forwards are changing a little bit. We’re used to defending against either big strong forwards or quick nippy ones. But the likes of Demba Ba [Newcastle] and Bobby Zamora [ex-Fulham, now QPR], as well as a few other strikers in the league, combine elements of both and I think that’s made things a little more difficult for defenders. That could be a reason why we’re seeing a lot more goals." Smalling has also noted the trend for shorter, skilful players to be deployed up front, such as Liverpool's Luis Suarez, City's Sergio Aguero and of course, the World Player of the Year - Barcelona's Lionel Messi. "I think you have to give managers a lot of credit for allowing their star players the freedom to roam and get on the ball in advanced areas," Smalling told us. "It’s the same thing we do with Wazza here at United. Those players are all at their best when they can go out and express themselves and run at opposition defences. And when they also drop deep to collect the ball it makes life even tougher for defenders."