Chris Smalling insists he will only get 'stronger' following his debut for Roma on Wednesday night.
The Manchester United defender played the entire 90 minutes for loan side Roma in midweek as they lost 2-0 to Atalanta in Serie A.
Smalling looked solid on his first start for the match but was unable to keep a clean sheet as goals from Duvan Zapata and Marten de Roon sealed the three points for the visitors.
The 29-year-old suffered from cramp late on in the game but remained on the pitch until the final whistle, and he hopes to build upon his fitness ahead of facing Lecce this weekend.
“Yes, a bit, but this was my first competitive game of the season," Smalling told the Roma website when asked about his cramp.
"I knew that. So come 70 minutes I was starting to feel it a little bit in the legs. But I know having this first game in the bank, for the next game I’ll be a lot stronger and sharper for it.
"Each game is going to be a tough battle. Today there were two teams that did not give much away, and there were only one or two chances in it. Each game is going to be a battle but that is a challenge I’m relishing.
“I enjoyed being back playing. It was my first game and I enjoyed playing at the stadium. But I just want to help the club achieve some big targets this season."
