Chris Smalling has said that it is a "joy to play alongside" Daley Blind at the heart of the Manchester United defence.

Sunday's 1-0 win over Everton marked United's 15th clean sheet of the campaign, many of which have featured the Smalling and Blind combination.

Smalling has earned a wide range of plaudits this season, but he has been quick to highlight the contribution of his Dutch partner.

"We know we can rely on each other and whenever there's a danger, it's not a case of having to over-cover because you don't trust your partner. We trust each other fully. We have brought out the best in each other as the games have gone on, and we will do as the games continue to come," he told the club's official website.

"With each game and each performance, Daley has put any criticism to bed and he's been one of the top centre-backs this season. Ever since he joined the club, he's rarely been injured and he's been able to achieve a very high consistency, be it in midfield or at centre-back. He's a joy to play alongside.

"It's great that he's naturally a midfielder, but he's got his passing range down to a tee and defensively he's sound as well. He brings a lot to our defensive line in knowing that he can play the ball out and really cut through teams."

The pair are expected to be back in action on Sunday when the Red Devils travel to Tottenham Hotspur.