Smalling stunned by sudden success

Chris Smalling is struggling to come to terms with the meteoric rise which has seen him go from non-league footballer to Fulham’s hottest prospect in 18 months.

Defender Smalling made his first Barclays Premier League start against Chelsea last week and helped Fulham keep a clean sheet in their FA Cup win over Swindon on Saturday in the absence of injured centre back Brede Hangeland.

He has also put in a series of impressive Europa League performances which have caught the eye of England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce, who handed him his first cap in August.

Back in the summer of 2008 Smalling was on the verge of going to Loughborough University while playing for Isthmian Premier League side Maidstone United after being released by Millwall.

And the commanding centre-half finds it hard to believe that he has come so far so quickly.

“It has been one of those sorts of stories, a meteoric rise,” the 20-year-old said.

“I was unfortunate at Millwall but settled in at Maidstone and then got my chance here and hopefully I can go from strength to strength.”