Injuries Robbing Chris Smalling of Chance to Establish Himself at Man United

Chris Smalling should be used to sudden changes in fortune.

In March 2008, he was scoring for non-league Maidstone United against East Thurrock United. By June, he was a Premier League player having signed a two-year contract at Fulham.

Just 18 months later, in January 2010, he joined Manchester United. By May 2011, he was a Premier League champion and on the bench for a Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley.

The change he has gone through this summer isn't quite as dramatic, but it's significant nonetheless. He ended last season as a squad player, used to plug gaps at centre-half and right-back.

Jon Super/Associated Press

By the start of the new campaign, he had been elevated to a more senior status. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic left, leaving Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Smalling as the club's most experienced centre-halves.

The world-class defender fans hoped would arrive never did. Louis van Gaal did sign Marcos Rojo, although both his appearances for United have come at left-back.

As Van Gaal left the King Power Stadium on Sunday, he was contemplating something of a crisis at the back. His defence had just shipped five goals against newly promoted Leicester. 

Jones has already been ruled out for a month with a hamstring problem. Evans has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Tyler Blackett is suspended for West Ham's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday after his red card at Leicester.

Jon Super/Associated Press

It looked like Smalling, himself only just back from a groin problem, had been presented with a chance to establish himself as a central figure in Van Gaal's new era.

That was until he picked up another injury in training this week.

It's now likely he'll miss the game against West Ham with Van Gaal admitting at his press conference on Thursday he may be forced to dip into the academy for reinforcements, according to James Robson of the Manchester Evening News.

Smalling may only be 24, but he's running out of chances to make the step up from useful squad player to first-team regular. Useful doesn't cut it at United any more. Just ask Danny Welbeck. Or Javier Hernandez.

United were confident this summer that Smalling would be able to steer clear of injury this season. The tests conducted by the sports scientists during pre-season indicated as much.

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

It hasn't worked out as they had hoped. It's also costing Smalling the chance to prove he's good enough to stay at Old Trafford. West Ham's visit this weekend will go down as another opportunity missed.

Van Gaal and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward have shown they're happy to spend heavily to improve the squad. It's likely that if the form and fitness issues surrounding the senior defenders have not been rectified by January, they'll get the cheque book out again.

Smalling's latest abrupt change of fortune is bad news for a player who is still trying to impress his new manager. If he's hoping to secure a regular place in Van Gaal's new-look side, he's running out of time.