Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has declared that he is focused on finding fitness and form and is desperate to avoid injuries after a disrupted start to the season.

Smalling missed the first three months of the campaign thanks to the combination of a groin injury and a broken metatarsal, which ruled him out until November.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a consistent run in the United side during a busy festive period and has insisted that he hopes to build on that progress in the second half of the season.

He told PA: "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.

"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 because there are lots of important matches coming up."

Smalling has made more than 70 appearances for the Red Devils since signing from Fulham in 2010.