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VIDEO: 'Natural' centre-back Chris Smalling confident alongside Phil Jagielka
MANCHESTER UNITED defender Chris Smalling felt "solid" playing alongside Everton's Phil Jagielka at centre-back during England's 1-0 defeat to Germany at Wembley - and believes he can make Roy Hodgson's squad in his natural position.
Smalling played with Jagielka in central defence for the first time last night, and was happy with their burgeoning relationship.
While Chelsea's Gary Cahill is Jagielka's first-choice partner, Smalling hopes to beat the likes of Steven Caulker and Phil Jones to a spot in Hodgson's travelling party for Brazil next summer.
"It felt pretty solid playing alongside him," said Smalling, who played England's last World Cup qualifier at right-back.
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"Centre-back is my natural position and I enjoyed it there.
"Being versatile might help me, but I want go there as a centre-back.
"Overall the performance in the first half was good. The goal killed it a bit. They were a big team and they capitalised on that.
"We had good spells but we didn't make it count."
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