• Premier League

Manchester United back to dominating best, says Smalling

Chris Smalling says Manchester United are getting back to their best following the club's recent upturn in form.

United have won their last four Premier League games to move fourth in the table, including a dominant 3-0 win against Hull and a tight 2-1 victory against Stoke on Tuesday.

Smalling believes confidence has been restored among his United team-mates after seemingly warming to Louis van Gaal's methods.

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"We have felt that. On Tuesday we could have won it more convincingly with the chances we had but it felt [like] the old times. We are really dominating games and creating a lot chances," Smalling said.

"We are happy playing games and getting the results. It is a happy place at the minute. I think we are starting to get a good number of players that are playing regularly and I think it is showing."

Tough ties against Southampton and arch-rivals Liverpool lie ahead but Smalling is confident United can continue their revival and make it six successive league wins.

"I think we can. I think at the moment we are in such a good run of form. We have got that belief back," Smalling said. "Now we will work hard for the rest of the week because we have got two big games next week [that could] put us up there with the boys around us.

"We have had two good performances where we have played some good football. If we can keep this run going I think we will get better."

Smalling has started United's last three games, all of which they won, and scored his first goal of the season in Saturday's triumph against Hull.

With Phil Jones injured and Jonny Evans yet to return to first-team football after a two-month absence because of an ankle problem, Smalling has become the regular right-sided centre-back.

"I am feeling good and it is nice to get a little bit of a run," Smalling said. "Through quite a lot of my time I have had a good run and then it has stopped for whatever reason. Hopefully I can kick on and just get a good run and cement my place."

United have had 42 injuries this season but Smalling feels they are in a decent position when their many absentees are taken into consideration.

"It wasn't a good start and we have still managed to keep ourselves up there," said Smalling. "We know we have got a chance and it is down to us to make sure we stay there."

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