Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is eyeing off the club captaincy.

Smalling, 25, has been a revelation so far this season, with United keeping three Premier League clean sheets in a row ahead of Sunday's trip to in-form Swansea City.

"Smalling is now always the third captain when the other two (Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick) are gone," said manager Louis Van Gaal.

"He has to develop himself as a captain more and more but that is also dependable on him being in the line-up."