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#4 Chris Smalling (Manchester United)
Following an injury to Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof failing to establish himself as a worthy summer signing, Smalling has become the unanimous first-choice centre-back in Jose Mourinho's squad.
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Barring Manchester United's last game against Leicester City - where the first thing that came to your mind is Chris Smalling in no man's land, enticed by Riyad Mahrez for Jamie Vardy's goal - the English defender has done quite well in the league this season. And he was injured and virtually immobile for the Foxes' equaliser.
Smalling had been dropped by Gareth Southgate when the England squad was announced but he seems to have taken it on the chin and put his head down to work hard to ensure he is on the flight to Russia for the World Cup in 2018.
His acid test came in the Manchester derby against a high-flying Manchester City who had scored in every game and he delivered. Although City scored twice from set-pieces thanks to Romelu Lukaku's antcis, Smalling had kept them at bay in open play with 4 tackles (with a 100% success rate), 7 clearances, and 3 interceptions.
