Manchester United defender Chris Smalling admits next month's derby is already on the players' minds.

While they will not lose focus on the games between now and the Manchester derby, the revenge mission at the Etihad on December 9 is burning in the Red Devils' subconscious.

Smalling, 22, said: "We will be hoping we can go into that game all firing and give them something to really worry about. It's going to be a massive game.

"It won't decide the title or anything but it could go a long way in terms of how teams cope mentally, whether they win or lose in the subsequent games.

"It affected me massively. We are not used to not winning anything and this year it does definitely drive us on.

"The manager was very disappointed, as we all were, and this year we've all gone out to try to make amends."