Smalling relieved to be back for United

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has admitted that he felt relieved for finally returning to Premier League action after being sidelined for months through injury.

The England international had not featured for the Red Devils since the end of last season and missed Euro 2012 due to a thigh injury, but he has now made 12 appearances since returning to action back in November.

"I feel good," Smalling told the club's official website .

"I’ve been able to play a few games now and it’s just a case of keeping that going."

"The more games you have the more you get into a rhythm and the more confident you feel. I just want to stay injury-free now and hopefully go on a good run [of playing games]; there are lots of important matches coming up."

"It’s been one of the worst [injury setbacks] I’ve had. It started at the end of last season and then I missed the start of this season. It’s never easy to miss the start of the season and then come back into it, but I’m fortunate that I’ve started to get back into the team."

"The main thing you focus on when you get back is getting into a rhythm. You’ve missed out while everyone has been playing and doing well so it makes you focus harder to get yourself back to being better than you were before."