Fulham boss Roy Hodgson sees Chris Smalling's long-term future at Craven Cottage.

The England U21 defender has been linked with Arsenal this week.

Hodgson told fulhamfc.com: "He [Smalling] was a late developer in the sense that he didn't get picked up by a league club in the early part of his career because we found him playing in Maidstone. He was seventeen and we luckily scouted him there and persuaded him to come here and in the time he's been with us he's been quite outstanding.

"He's a very talented player and he's obviously one for the future. I'm delighted to see him doing so well for the U21s for England. Whenever he's been called upon to play for us, even in very difficult games, Basel away being a classic example, he's performed splendidly. He's one we fully believe in and we hope he'll be a Fulham player for many years to come."