ROY Hodgson has backed Chris Smalling to be hit for Manchester United.
The 20-year-old Fulham defender, who will move to Old Trafford in the summer, had a nightmare in Saturday's defeat to Hull, giving away a penalty as they lost 2-0.
But Whites boss Hodgson reckons the former Maidstone man won't buckle under the pressure.
He said: "Had he not been signed by United then the criticism would be quite different. But now all eyes are on him.
"He'll cope with the pressure of playing at Old Trafford. I'm doing Alex Ferguson a favour, letting him get his mistakes out of the way at Fulham."
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