Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested Chris Smalling could return to Old Trafford when his season-long loan spell at Roma finishes at the end of the season.
Smalling, who first joined United from Fulham in 2010, moved to the Serie A club over the summer, and has made 11 appearances for the club so far, scoring twice.
His future at United appeared in doubt when he went on loan, but Solskjaer has hinted he could yet return to the fold in the first-team at his parent club when his deal with Roma comes to an end.
"He's a boy who couldn't be here without being a regular and we decided on that," Solskjaer said. "I am so, so happy for him because we can see the top player he is."
When asked if he expected Smalling to return after his loan spell, Solskjaer simply said: "Yes".
Meanwhile the United manager also condemned the recent headline by Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport which referenced the upcoming clash between Smalling and former teammate Romelu Lukaku when Roma take on Inter Milan on Friday as ' Black Friday .'
"First of all, when you see that paper you say: 'Wow. Really? Is that possible?" added Solskjaer.
"It's the worst front page I've ever seen. It has to be. Of course we have been in touch with Chris, just so he knows that we'll back him and we support him. And with Romelu as well.
"I don't work in your line of business but, wow, that's incredible- and at least we don't see that here. We can see lots of different things but we don't see that, so that has to be stamped down."
As a result of the headline Roma have banned the newspaper from their training ground until January and won't carry out media duties with them until that time either.
