Chris Smalling says he's ready to take a leadership role with Roma.

The on-loan Manchester United defender struggled in defeat to Parma on Sunday.

But he insists, "When the club picked me up, they immediately made it clear that they were expecting to rely on my experience and that I was an example for a team that is very young.

"My experience, along with that of (Edin) Dzeko and (Aleks) Kolarov can be very useful."

On the defeat, Smalling added: "It has been a long and difficult month, but also a positive one before these two defeats. Today we conceded goals in our best moment and we are very frustrated for losing our position in the standings."