Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has backed assistant manager Ryan Giggs for the top job.

United legend Giggs is being groomed as Louis van Gaal's eventual successor at Old Trafford.

Smalling said: “Ryan has all the qualities to be a great coach.

“The manager gives him a lot of responsibility when analysing teams and doing the team meetings. And quite often, when we are playing an 11 v 11 game in training, he will take one of the teams.

“Ryan has that hunger and drive - and he also has respect. He has got everything to go a very long way in the game as a manager. Ryan has got everything right since becoming a coach."