Chris Smalling prefers playing in a central role

Manchester United and England defender Chris Smalling believes that his future is at centre-back rather than right-back.

The 21-year-old has started this season playing in an unfamiliar right-sided defensive position and made his England debut on Friday evening in that role.

Smalling has made an impression that position so far but has admitted that he sees himself playing at the heart of the defence in the future.

"I played a few games at right-back in pre-season, but so did Phil Jones because we had lost players like Wes Brown and John O'Shea," said Smalling.

"I want to be challenging Rio [Ferdinand] and [Nemanja] Vidic for their place because that's where I feel I'm at my best.

"That's where I have always played. I hope that in the future I'll get to play there for club and country."

Smalling joined United from Fulham in 2010.